Cangolf foils Luisita as Manotoc sparkles

DAVAO—With a closer like no other, Canlubang Sunday completed a comeback for the ages after successfully wiping out a 12-point overnight deficit to extend its reign as PAL Interclub Senior champion.

Tommy Manotoc anchored the Sugar Barons’ swashbuckling closing round by firing a one-over-par 73 worth 53 points as Canlubang Golf Club (Cangolf) nipped Luisita by three at the Apo Golf course here, dealing the Luisitans one of their most heart-rending losses ever.

Tony Olives fired 46 points and Rolly Viray, the former pro and national champion, chipped in with 45 as the Barons tallied 144 for 571 overall and their sixth championship in the last seven editions of the event.

One of those championships also happened in this province, when the Barons came back from a similar 18-point first-round deficit three years ago. Manotoc also finished off the Luisitans in the heavily-wooded layout.

“This is the sweetest,” Canlubang’s Luigi Yulo said.

Luisita lost just two points of a 12-point overnight lead when the final flight made the turn, but got unraveled in the final nine holes as their big guns sputtered all at the same time with the 44 of Francis Gaston proving enough to lead the team.

Iggy Clavecilla was good for just 43 points and Rudy Amata’s 42 was the third best score in Luisita’s final round 129 as Pepot Inigo, after being just three-over after the first nine, ballooned to 13-over overall.

“This course is, simply put, a really tough one,” the 62-year-old Manotoc, said. “But I love this course.”

With an 8-iron tee shot from 150 yards that landed within club length of the hole, Manotoc birdied the par-3 17th hole and put the Barons ahead to stay, and that stroke of brilliance also gave him the individual championship over Montito Garcia of Cebu Country Club.

CCC finished third just two points behind Luisita after Koichi Horii shot 51 and Clifford Celdran and Nonoy Tirol contributed 51 and 46 points, respectively, in a fourth round 146 for 566.

“Our wheels just fell off. All of them,” said Luisita skipper Clavecilla.

Manila Golf, down to three players, also won out in a torrid final day fight with Apo Golf in the Founders Division over at the well-manicured Rancho Palos Verdes layout.

Jaime Fernandez shot 43 points, lawyer Manoling Chan added 42 and Mike Prieto was good for 40 as Manila Golf closed out with 125 for 524 and a one-point win over Apo.

Tibor Marcelino had 52 points, Lando Cachuela had 47 while Chito accounted for 42 to complete a 141 for the day that still proved short for Apo to overhaul a 10-point deficit at the start of the round.

Platinum sponsors: Mareco Broadcasting Network, Radio High, Stargate Media, Media Five, GE; Major backers: Asia Brewery, Business Mirror, Airbus; Other sponsors: Philippine Daily Inquirer, Department of Tourism, Philippine Graphics, Boeing International Corp., Bombo Radyo, Manila Bulletin, Moevenpick Resort & Spa Cebu, Plantation Bay, Radisson Blu Hotel, Imperial Palace Waterpark & Spa Cebu.