Cebuanos pad buffer to 3 pts

LAWRENCE Cubillo of Del Monte chips into Cebu CC’s 16th green. ROMY HOMILLADA

CEBU CITY—Defending champion Cebu Country Club survived another trying day on its home course yesterday to stay on top after two rounds of the 66th Philippine Airlines Interclub Men’s Championship here.

The Cebuanos, who started the day just a point up on Del Monte, managed only 130 points but padded their lead to three going into the final two days of the country’s unofficial team championship.

Marko Sarmiento fired a two-over-par 74 worth 34 points, Inquirer Golf Monthly magazine columnist Jovi Neri and Eric Deen accounted for 33 apiece and Andre Borromeo added 30 to boost Cebu’s overall total to 250.

“A lead is still a lead, whether that be by one or 10 (points),” said Cebu skipper Ramontito Garcia, CCC’s eight-time club champ who failed to count with a 29.

Reymon Jaraulla and Lawrence Cubillo turned in 33 points each, Magno Arancon had a 32 and Jet Sajulga contributed 30 as Del Monte, the 2011 champion, posted a second-day 128 for a 247 aggregate.

Keanu Jahns, a 6-foot-2 half-German who is joining the Philippine national team pool this year, recorded the event’s first sub-par round, a 3-under 69 for 39 points that kept Alabang in the thick of the fight with 128 and 245 overall.

With Gabriel Manotoc shooting a 31, Jama Reyes a 30 and Miguel Shah a 28, Alabang stood just five off the pace and with a solid shot of denying the Cebuanos a repeat victory.

“It would have been at least two strokes better had it not been for some bad putts and around-the-green miscues,” Jahns, born and raised in the Philippines, said after missing a three-foot putt for par on No. 9, his last hole.

All told, Jahns had five birdies and two bogeys in his best Interclub form in two years.

Negros seized the Founders division lead, also at Cebu CC, after also pooling 130 for 233.

Chris Infante and Jae Woo-yang chalked up  33 points apiece with the veteran Francis Gaston and Chepe Dulay adding 32s for Negros, which swept past first-round leader Orchard.

Wolen Superal, the former junior wonder, fired a 33 and ex-pro Raymund Sangil contributed 32 for Orchard, which tallied just 118 for the day and a 232 total as the 29 of Paul Salvador and the 24 of Mike Mapua counted.

Cebu is fielding a lineup backstopped by the burly Bayani Garcia, Carl Almario and talented Japanese teener Gen Nagai in today’s third round at Mactan Island Golf Club with its strongest crew reserved for tomorrow’s final 18 at its own course.

This year’s PAL Interclub is sponsored by 105.1 Crossover, Solar Sports, Plantation Bay Resort and Spa, 92.3 FM Radyo 5, Araneta Coliseum and AXN. Major sponsors are Airbus, Manila Broadcasting Corporation, Philippine Broadcasting Network, People Asia, Radio Mindanao Network, Business Mirror and ABS-CBN The Filipino Channel (TFC).  Corporate sponsors include Radisson Blu Hotel, Shangri-La Resort & Spa, Boeing, Inquirer Golf Magazine, Philippines Graphic and Manila Bulletin.

The scores:

CHAMPIONSHIP: 250—Cebu 120-130; 247—Del Monte 119-128; 245—Championship 117-128; 199-Sta. Elena 97-102; 148—Pearl kai Hawaii 70-78; 146—Leyte 50-96; 140—Greenhills West 68-72; 124—Vancouver Golf 58-66; 114—Brotherhood 57-57, SFO Heritage 46-68; 110—Fil-Oz Sydney 50-60; 103—Van City 55-48; 90—40Love Darwin 33-57; 84—Greater YVR 29-55; 83—South Bay 42-41; 74—Yokohama Eagles 28-46; 65— Baguio 29-36; 50—Kuwait 19-31.

FOUNDERS: 233—Negros 103-130; 232—Orchard 114-118; 228—Southwoods 105-123; 220—Valley Golf 100-120; 208—Palos Verdes 92-116; 214—Wack Wack 99-115; 211—Forest Hills 100-111; 201- Tagaytay Highlands 90-111; 209—Alta Vista 100-109, Apo Golf 109-106; 207—Villamor 102-105; 200— Manila Golf 93-107; 195—Eagle Ridge 703-92; 186—Riviera 93-93; 182—Iligan 84-98

SPORTSWRITERS: 199—Club Filipino 99-100; 191—Zamboanga 108-83; 190— Sarangani 103-87; 186—Mactan 102-84; 179—Bay Area 94-85; 178—Camp John Hay 95-83; 169—Lumbia 85-84; 168—Sherwood 85-83; 166—Maharlika 84-82; 165—Red Hawk 101-64; 164—PGA BC 89-75; 163—Iloilo 81-82; 162—Phil Navy 85-77, Evangelista 90-72; 157—Pueblo De Oro 83-74; 154—Standford 86-68, FilAm Fairfield 83-71; 152—San Juanico 86-66, Guinhalaran 78-74; 150—FGA1 Riyadh 86-64; 149—Bacolod 78-71; 148—Davao 81-67; 147—Lanang 76-71, UP Tee Jots 82-65; 146—South Cotabato 77-69; 139—Austral Asian 73-66; 127—Victorias 68-59; 120-Melbourne Pinoy 53-67; 112— Seattle 51-61; 110—Pinoy YVR 63-47; 62-Riyadh 30-32

FRIENDSHIP: 172—Filam Hawaii 87-85; 141—Pittsburg 68-73; 138—Northgate 71-67; 135—Mabuhay 80-55; 132—Cotabato 67-65; 130—Figme 70-60; 117—Green Tee 56-61, Mt. Malindang 53-64, SFO Crystal Springs 56-61