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Saturday, February 25, 2006
CCC now on top
By Jobannie C. Tabada Of Sun.Star Cebu
DAVAO CITY – Even as the Championship division has become a turf war, the Founders division saw an unexpected twist in Cebu Country Club’s (CCC) march to the top.
Led by team captain Ramontito Garcia’s 35 points, the defending champion Cebuanos finally got the results they wanted – ironically at a place where they least expected it – producing an impressive 126 points in yesterday’s third round at the Apo Golf and Country Club – the most points scored in a round in the division so far – to grab the lead for the first time.
CCC now has a three-round 348, overtaking by five points erstwhile leader Wack Wack, which managed only 107 points yesterday for a three-round 343.
“It’s one of the best Interclub performances we’ve had,” said Jovy Neri on their third-round 126 at Apo Golf, which was better than the 123 of Championship division leader Southwoods in round two. “Apo was really a big hurdle but we managed to produce the points.”
Neri and Mark Dy added 31 and 32 points, respectively, while Jojo Tiongko had a 28 for CCC, which is seeking its fifth title in six years.
The surprise of the day was Carl Almario. The team’s designated “closer failed to produce the big numbers yesterday, managing only 27 points, which did not count in the five-to-play-four-to-count format.
Neri said Almario had taken painkillers because of an aching tooth.
“It affected his game,” he said.
With the rest of the field virtually out of contention – Forest Hills and Negros Occidental are 24 points behind at joint third with a 324 each – Neri, Dy, Eric Deen, William Hong and Almario negotiate the hilly fairways of Rancho Palos Verdes Golf and Country Club today as they try to thwart Wack Wack in the two-way battle for the championship.
“We like our chances,” said Neri, who expects big scores from the teams today at Palos Verdes, which he said is an easier course compared to Apo Golf. “But we don’t want to be overconfident.”
Lost ground
A day after its second-round crew went flat at Apo Golf, Manila Southwoods returned to Rancho Palos Verdes yesterday making up for lost ground with a tournament-best 147 points in the third round to reclaim the lead over Canlubang, which managed only a 134 yesterday.
The 13-point spread over Canlubang yesterday erased an 11-point deficit and gave Southwoods a two-point lead, setting up an exciting final-round showdown today, reminiscent of last year’s endgame battle for the championship when Southwoods – aided by a couple of lucky breaks – dethroned Canlubang at the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club in Bacolod City.
This time however, Southwoods may need more than just luck to retain its title. As has been the case after three days of action, no lead is safe in this tournament. To recall, Southwoods opened the 72-hole event at Palos Verdes with a 10-point cushion over Canlubang.
Dropped
In the Friendship division, Zamboanga took the lead with a three-round 268, followed by Camp Evangelista (259) and Maharlika (253). Erstwhile leader Standford, producing only 76 points yesterday, dropped to fourth with a 251.
Sponsors of the tournament are Action Asia, Airbus, Boeing, GE Aviation, GMA 7, Honda Cars Davao, INQ7.net, Joey 92.3, Royal Caribbean International; Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corp., People Asia, Premier Wine & Spirits, Rudy Project, UMBN and Uraya Land Development Corp.
Corporate backers are ABS-CBN International, Fortune Tobacco and Radio Mindanao Network, 96.3 Wrock, Asia Brewery, Century Park Hotel, Honda Megamotors Corporation, SM City Davao and Tanduay Rhum.
Canlubang easily wrested the lead after its second-round five - four of them playing on homecourt - peppered Apo Golf with 144 points, while Southwoods only had 123, which translated to an 11-point bubble.
With the Championship division back at Palos Verdes yesterday, Southwoods likewise returned to the driver’s seat with a three-round 415 over Canlubang’s 413.
The final 18 holes will be at Apo Golf today, where Canlubang’s Jonel Ababa, Jay Bayron and Boyet Saragoza once worked as caddies. The three, along with Abe Rosal and Mark Hernando, make up Canlubang’s fourth-round crew today.
It was also at Apo Golf where Southwoods’ Jong Laput, Mike Bibat, Erwin Vinluan, Gene Bondoc and Hanson So Jr. fumbled with a 123 in round two. The same five will try to carry the team to a second consecutive championship today.
The disparity is obvious, but not for Southwoods team captain Thirdy Escano.
“Tapos na ang bad day namin doon (We’ve had our bad day at Apo),” said Escano. “They have the advantage at Apo, but with this big comeback, we are going tomorrow with our morale high.”
Del Monte fell out of the championship race with a 129 yesterday for a three-round 394.
In the Sportswriters division, Cebu’s Alta Vista maintained its hold of the third spot with 95 points yesterday for a three-round 295. Host team Rancho Palos Verdes leads with 307 points, while Orchard Golf is second with 304.
In the Friendship division, Zamboanga took the lead with a three-round 268, followed by Camp Evangelista (259) and Maharlika (253). Erstwhile leader Standford, producing only 76 points yesterday, dropped to fourth with a 251.
Sponsors of the tournament are Action Asia, Airbus, Boeing, GE Aviation, GMA 7, Honda Cars Davao, INQ7.net, Joey 92.3, Royal Caribbean International; Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corp., People Asia, Premier Wine & Spirits, Rudy Project, UMBN and Uraya Land Development Corp.
Corporate backers are ABS-CBN International, Fortune Tobacco and Radio Mindanao Network, 96.3 Wrock, Asia Brewery, Century Park Hotel, Honda Megamotors Corporation, SM City Davao and Tanduay Rhum.
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (February 25, 2006 issue)
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