Monday, March 03, 2008 Davao shotmakers: From bag toters to champions By Charles Raymond A. Maxey
BACOLOD CITY -- They used to carry bags for golfers, hitting the fairways almost every day just to earn a living. They tour the course and help out players, especially in reading the greens during tournaments or just regular rounds.
Now, they are called champions, for a bunch of former caddies from Davao City spearheaded Canlubang's historic victory in the 61st Philippine Airlines (PAL) Interclub Saturday here.
Seven of the 10 players composing the triumphant Canlubang squad are from Davao, led by the diminutive Mario Labajo. The others are Rufino Bayron, Peter Villaber, Zanie Boy Gialon, Jonel Ababa and Joseph Labajo, Mario's younger brother.
Mario Labajo, just around five feet tall (or shall we say, short?) but a strong hitter, emerged the best performer in Canlubang's victory this year with rounds of 32 and 39, the second one he scored on the second day when the Sugar Barons all but wrapped up the title.
The 36-year-old Labajo gunned down five birdies in that round, highlighting his excellent play with a chip-in birdie in the 11th hole that triggered it all and put damage on Manila Southwoods' bid for the crown.
Of the seven Davao players, Gialon and Villaber are the newcomers on the team.
The 18-year-old Gialon played on the first day, but made an infraction that cost the team two points.
The 20-year-old Villaber played in the final round and scored 31 points, not bad for a rookie.
"I played bad," said an apologetic Villaber, who idolizes former PGA champion Vijay Singh.
Paul Echavez played his second Interclub after debuting last year for Canlubang.
Ababa, Bayron, and Joseph Labajo are mainstays of the squad.
Except for the Labajo brothers, who caddied for the Davao City Golf Club, the rest were former caddies at the Apo Golf and Country Club.
Bayron, Echavez, Ababa, Villaber and Gialon live in Sitio Durian, Barangay Inigo, Talomo District, just near the Apo course, where the country's champion golfers like Cassius Casas, Cesar Ababa, Antonio Lascuna and Elmer Salvador learned the rudiments of the game.
When the PAL Interclub shifts to Davao next year, Canlubang will still be the team to beat as the familiarity of the Davao players with the Apo course will definitely come into play.
"Watch out for Zanie Boy Gialon," said Canlubang's Tommy Manotoc. Not only Gialon. Watch out for more of the Davao golfers.
