Cebu Country Club jumpstarts title bid in PAL Interclub with 123 points in Day 1 of men’s division

Thursday, February 23, 2012

DAVAO City — Cebu Country Club kicked off its title bid on a strong note, firing 123 points at the Rancho Palos Verdes for second place in the opening round of the PAL Interclub men’s regular tournament championship division.

CCC, which beat Canlubang last year for second place in the premier division, trails Alabang by one point after the first round and is tied with defending champion Del Monte. Canlubang is sitting out this year’s tournament. Manila Southwoods is fourth at 103.

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Gen Nagai led the Cebuanos with 34 points, while Bayani Garcia fired a 32. Carlo Almario and Jovi Neri had 29 and 28, respectively, while the 28 of Marko Sarmiento didn’t count.

“We like our position and it’s a very good start,” Neri said. “But it’s still very early and one down is nothing really.”

For today, the tournament shifts to the Apo Golf and Country Club and the team will be fielding Marky Dy, Eric Deen, Gio Gandiongco, LJ Go and Nagai.

“Apo is a very tough course and we will really see the picture after that. It’s a course that will separate the men from the boys,” said Neri, who added they had a good practice round in Apo last Monday.

CCC had a couple of three-peats in the Founders Division and was promoted to the Championship Division for the past two years.

On the other hand, Santiago Lorenzo and Miguel Shah had 33 and 32 for Alabang, while Andres Saldana (31) and Basti Lorenzo (28) brought up the rear. Del Monte, which won last year’s title by 18 points, had Banny Abano, Loenard Lofranco and Julius Bautista scoring 31 each and Yoyong Velez adding 30.

While CCC is starting hot, two other Cebu clubs opened their campaign in the Sportswriters division on a disastrous note. Mactan Golf Club had an 87, while Club Filipino opened with a 70 at the Apo Golf Club. Hong Kil Seo led Mactan with 25, while PO3 Pio Barandog and Efren Gica had a pair of 23s. Col. Gerard Janorado had 16 and Kim Eric Agatep’s 15 didn’t count. On the other hand, Raymond Garcia and Razie Razon led Club Filipino with 22 each, and Peter Militante and Kenneth Dyguani had 13 each.

Jiji Gullas finished with 12 and wasn’t counted under the five-to-play, four-to-count format.

Mt. Malindang leads the division with 111, two points ahead of Eagle Ridge, while Iligan is third with 108 points.

In the Founders Division, Alta Vista Golf and Country Club opened with a 104 for sixth place, 13 points adrift off early leaders Orchard and Wackwack, which had 117.

Gabriel Yap had 30, David Park scored 29, while Marvin Mendoza and Victor Gozela had 25 and 22 points, respectively, for Alta Vista.

The team was docked two points for an extra stroke by Park.