BACOLOD — Eastridge-Primehomes won its first Philippine Airlines (PAL) Interclub Men's Championship division on Friday, doing it in wire-to-wire style and leaving the rest of the opposition biting its dust with a 21-point victory over Manila Southwoods that came on the heels of its best effort for the week.
"Finally. This is very sweet," nonplaying skipper Gimo Asuncion said after the din of the celebration died down a bit at Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club (formerly Marapara) here. "It has been quite a long journey for this team, a journey that had its heartaches and lessons."
Ronel Taga-an fired a three-under-par 67 worth 39 points to pace Eastridge's closing 106 points that counted Jeff Lumbo's 35 and the 32 of Edison Tabalin, and the Binangonan-based crew tallied 415 points to post the win running away.
"The boys performed so well," Gary Sales, the ex-tee boy turned businessman who helped put this team together in 2021, said after failing to count with a 30. "I am very proud of what this team has done. This definitely didn't come easy for us.
"We are looking forward to keeping this team intact as much as we can and continue to learn as a team."
Asuncion said that only Lumbo will be leaving the team after this tournament to turn pro and that the club has "at least a couple of players ready to take his place."
The dethroned champions returned to their struggles at the tree-lined, bending layout, tallying just 99 points with Perry Bucay's 35 leading the way. Together with the 32s of Zeus Sara and Santino Laurel, the Carmona-based squad that was denied a sixth title in the last seven years amassed 394 points and finished comfortably in the second spot.
"We will definitely be going back to the drawing board," nonplaying Southwoods captain Thirdy Escano said as the club stands to lose some of its standouts who have standing scholarship offers in the United States. "We gave it a good fight but just fell short."
Tagaytay Highlands-Team IMG wound up third, 40 points off Eastridge after tallying a closing 95. Terrence Macatangay fired 35 points, Masaichi Otake had 34 and Justin Tambunting rounded out the scoring with 26.
Del Monte Golf Club brought up the rear with a 363 total after accounting for 94 fourth-round points. The club successfully defended the Seniors Championship last week.
Meanwhile, Canlubang went on to formalize its Founders Division romp after totaling 97 points over at Bacolod Golf Club, where John Bernis tallied a level par 70 for 36 points to lead a final round of 97 and 381 overall. PR
