Saturday, March 01, 2008 Go slow, trail, then rally By Mike T. Limpag of Sun.Star Cebu
BACOLOD City—For most its six triumphs in the PAL Interclub Founders Division, the Cebu Country Club men’s team seem to follow a regular script. They start slow, trail midway before pulling out a final round rally to wrest the championship.
And as the team, skippered by Montito Garcia, seeks its fourth straight title, everything seems to fall in place. And not even an over-eager marshal could spoil the day.
Trailing host Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club by 12 points going into the third day, CCC narrowed the gap to just three after firing their best round so far, 119, for a three day haul of 334 at the Negros Golf and Country Club.
Carl Almario’s 31 led the Cebuanos, who are dedicating their campaign this year to Choi Sala, the handicapping committee chair of CCC who passed away just yesterday morning, in their third round. Montito Garcia and rookie Kiyo Takahashi had a pair of 30s, while Mark Dy had a slow 28, thanks to an unnecessary interruption.
"I was addressing the ball in hole 8 when the marshal shouted at us for our slow play," said Dy. Dy was just two-over at that point and finished at 6-over for the next 10 holes.
Dy said it wasn’t him, but another golfer, who was slowing the play.
"That really affected my play," said Dy, who shot a record 40 for CCC during their triumph in Cagayan de Oro City last year.
Dy later said the Bacolod Committee apologized to him for the incident.
Scent of victory
On the other hand, Negros cruised to a 110 on their home course for their 337 and the Cebuanos can already smell victory going into the final round at the Bacolod Golf and Country Club in Binitin.
Jae Yang led the host with 32, Jun Bantug had a 28, while Chepe Dulay and Jard de Leon had 25 each.
"Tonight (last night), we are going to discuss how each player is going to play each hole," said Garcia.
For their final day assault, the team will field Carl Almario, Eric Deen, Joseph Stevens, Jojo Tiongko and Nonoy Tirol.
Though the team had a slow 107 at the same course in the second day, Garcia is confident the team can come up with the right adjustment.
“Lisud ang course kung na-ay hangin,” said Garcia of the hilly and elevated Binitin course. “Its very hard to adjust because it may be windy when you hit the ball but when it reaches the green, there is no wind.” (The course is difficult when windy.)
Though they may be trailing the home team in the final day. Garcia sees the edge favoring the Cebuanos.
“It is their home course, but we have more experience in winning,” said Garcia.
The team also had to overhaul a deficit in the final day before securing the title in 2002, while they erased double digit deficits, as much as 14, midway through their campaign in the last two years.
Mactan Island, which is playing in the division for the first time, slipped to eighth with a 299 after tallying 98 yesterday.
Mactan, which surprised the field as it tied CCC for second in the opening day, got a 29 from Nobert Calan and a 24 from Renato Aquino. Roy Dadulao and Fernando Mondares also scored 23 and 22 points respectively.
Meanwhile, in the Sportswriters Division, Alta Vista Golf and Country Club is on pace to duplicate Mactan Island’s third place finish last year after scoring a 103 yesterday for a 204, trailing Villamor (326) and Iloilo (308).
Alta Vista got a 28 from Dennis Canoy, while Gio Gandiongco, Kim Kwang Seok and Emir Abutazel had 25 each.
In the championship division, Canlubang came up with the big numbers that even Joseph Labajo’s 33 didn't count in the five to play, four to count format.
Jessie Balasabas scored 36, Rufilo Bayron had a 35, Paul Echaves carded a 34 and Mark Fernando scored a 33 for their 138 and three-day total of 405, 31 points clear of second placer Southwoods.
Jonjon Asistio led Southwoods with 38, while Tonite Fernando scored a 34. Miggy and Mike Yee had 33 and 26 yesterday for their 131 and 374.
Canlubang, which has mostly former caddies in its lineup, is on course for another threepeat, mirroring the threepeat of its Seniors team just lass week.
"I think, the other teams should develop good players like we do," said Canlubang captain Luigi Yulo.
Delmonte is third with 367.
"The lead is too big to overcome but I told my boys there is nothing to be ashamed of. We will still play our best tomorrow," said Southwoods captain Thirdy Escano.
