Orchard regains Founders division lead at PAL Interclub

CEBU CITY -- Orchard regained the lead in the Founders division going into the final round of the 66th Philippine Airlines (PAL) Interclub golf championships here, even as Apo and Rancho Palos Verdes virtually bowed out of contention after another poor showing Friday at the Mactan Island Golf Club.

After losing the lead after the second round Thursday, Orchard shot its lowest score in three days Friday with 108 points, but it was enough to build a three-point lead at 340.

Ace Stehmier had the team’s best score of 32 points, followed by the 27 of King Stehmier. T.J. Benitez scored 25 and Alan Arcilla chipped in 24 to complete scoring for Orchard.

Southwoods had 337 after making 109 yesterday behind Jik Abdon (32), Miko Yee (27), Miggy Yee (26) and Anthony See.

Occupying third place and eight points off Orchard is Negros, which managed only 99 in the third round, a far cry from its 130 in the second that gave the team the lead.

Apo Golf and Country Club stayed 36 points off the pacesetter with its 304 total, making only 95 points in a disastrous round Friday. Apo had 103 points in the first round and fired 106 in the second.

Pitt Jun Batu was the team’s best scorer with 27, followed by Juan Karlos Alba, who made 25. Thomas Francis Tionko scored 25 and Peter Edwin Bisera contributed 20. Apo is in seventh place.

Palos Verdes is way off the lead after scoring only 297 in three rounds.

The 66th edition of the PAL Interclub is being sponsored by the Department of Tourism, 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.

Corporate sponsors include Radisson Blu Hotel, Shangri-La Resort and Spa, Boeing, Inquirer Golf Magazine, Philippines Graphic and Manila Bulletin.