CCC eyes back-to-back titles in PAL golf

THE Cebu Country Club (CCC) eyes back-to-back titles in the regular division of the 66th Philippine Airlines Interclub golf team championships on Feb. 21 in their own turf.

Cebu, which hosts the unofficial national golf team championship for the first time in 12 years, has the luxury of the hometown advantage.

This year, four courses of the CCC will be used, hence “4 at the Fore.”

Canlubang will defend the seniors’ title, which it narrowly won last year in Davao in this year’s edition.

The seniors’ division is set on Feb. 21-24 at the Alta Vista Golf and Country Club and Club Filipino de Cebu Golf Club.

A record 100 teams, including 53 from abroad, were entered in the seniors event.

Cebu Country Club and Mactan Island Golf Club will host the regular Interclub set on Feb. 26 to March 2. More than half of the 78 squads in the regular Interclub are from overseas.

Presented by PAL, the event is sponsored by Mareco Broadcasting Network (Crossover), Solar Entertainment, Plantation Bay and Media Five. It is also backed by major sponsors Manila Broadcasting Corp., Philippine Broadcasting Network, Stargate Media and Radio Mindanao Network.

Corporate sponsors include Shangri- La Hotel Mactan, Boeing International Corp., Radisson Blu Hotel and Philippine Daily Inquirer. Minor sponsor is Ginebra San Miguel.

Last year, Lloyd Go contributed 70 points in two days to carry Cebu Country Club to an eight-point win over Del Monte in the Regular Interclub.

The Cebuanos finished the four-day, five-to-play, four-to-count event with 507 points.

Third place went to Alabang Golf with 493 points.

Wack-Wack won the Founders division with 476 points as the Mandaluyong-based team edged Orchard (461) and Negros (445). The Sportswriters class went to Camp John Hay (411) followed by Eagle Ridge (388) and Mt. Malindang (387).

In the Friendship division, Austral-Asian (303), Fil-Am Hawaii (284) and PGA British Columbia (282) finished in the top three in that order.

Competition was stiff in the seniors’ tournament as Canlubang rallied in the final round to edge old rival Luisita, 571-568. Cebu Country Club landed a strong third with 566 points.

Manila Golf Club nipped Apo Golf, 524-523, to win the Founders crown while Fil-Am Hawaii came home with the Sportswriters plum with 479 ahead of Davao (473) and Chamorro (472). Club Intramuros bagged the Friendship class with 442 with Fil-Am Florida (389) and Southbay (384) at second and third, respectively. (PR0)