|
Sunday, March 07, 2004
PAL Inter-Club no longer a bore
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – I was surprised when I got here four days ago that I did not see my old acquaintance, Ding Marcelo, now the sports editor of Manila Bulletin. He was always a familiar fixture in every PAL Interclub championships, especially among the grizzled sportswriters like Roger Flores, Al Mendoza, Jimmy Cantor, Rey Bancod, Jun Engracia, Ernie Gonzalez, Dodo Catacutan, Edwin Gabutina. And others. Marcelo is not with us in the 57th PAL Inter-Club Regular Men’s tournament, which ends today at the new Pueblo Golf & Country Club.
Until I read his column last week in which he said that the PAL Inter-Club is getting to be a bore. For a very good reason. He said that the coveted men’s overall championship trophy was almost always a domination by Canlubang, with Luisita and Manila Southwoods providing some sort of token opposition in the last four stagings. In fact, before the 2004 championships began, with Canlubang seeking a five-peat, the question in everyone’s mind is: “By how many points will Canlubang win this time?” Which team will be the runner-up?
This time, however, co-host Del Monte provided the biggest stunner in the history of the storied Inter-Club by winning the men’s championship crown, the first time that a Mindanao team achieved the feat. Del Monte, the home course of one-time Asian Order of Merit champion Frankie Miñoza, surprised all skeptics every step of the way, leading on first day and hanging on until the final putt to hold off the final challenge of Southwoods and Canlubang.
The margin of four points that separated Del Monte from Southwoods – 571 to 567 – is the second closest in the history of the PAL Inter-Club. The closest margin was made in 2000 when Canlubang outlasted Luisita by three points.
History has been made in the PAL Inter-Club here at Cagayan de Oro. Hail the new champion, Del Monte Golf & Country Club. Canlubang consoled itself with a third-place wind-up.
(March 7, 2004 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here.
|
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
