Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon -There’s nothing left for Del Monte to do but play its celebratory round on Sunday and make official its coming–finally–as a Championship division winner in the Philippine Airlines Seniors Interclub tournament.
Playing with the unforgiving second round roster that again delivered the goods on Saturday, Del Monte amassed 155 points and has all but put away the centerpiece division crown after opening up an 18-point lead over Canlubang heading into the final round at Pueblo de Oro.
“Things are looking good for us going into the last day,” playing skipper Yoyong Velez, the opening 18 hero for Del Monte who comes out for the fourth round, said. “Everybody delivered, and obviously it’s a good thing.”
Romeo Jaraula carved out a level par 72 worth 54 points and paced Del Monte for the second straight day, his two-round stint this season over the course no other team has solved being at 141. Crispin Aparilla accounted for 53 points and Billy Adag rounded out scoring with 48 points in another overpowering display.
Starting the round 11 points ahead, Del Monte has added to its lead in each of the last two rounds–five after the second 18–and Velez said that despite the impending win, it will be business as usual for them.
“We will still play our game, treat this one as a normal round,” Velez said of what their mindset will be on the final day. “We will not let our guards down.”
Ex-pro Jessie Hernandez and Rolly Viray each scored 50 points as Canlubang totaled 148 counting the 48 of Pem Rosal. The Sugar Barons are now just three points ahead of darkhorse Manila Southwoods, which amassed 151 for 439.
Champion San Miguel Beer coach in the PBA Jorge Gallent, playing in his first Senior tournament in the Interclub, led the Carmona-based bets for the second straight day with 53 points and Southwoods also counted the 49s of Jun Jun Plana and Monet Garcia to be two points up on defending champion Luisita.
The Luisitans, who came from behind last year to nip the Sugar Barons in Cebu, have a 437 tally going back to Pueblo de Oro after pooling 148 built around the 54 points of Ronnie Littaua.
Rodel Mangulabnan accounted for 48 points and Jingy Tuason 46 for the Luisitans, who threw away the 43 of Marvin Caparros.
The 75th staging of the PAL Interclub is supported by diamond sponsors Mastercard and Asian Journal.
Platinum sponsors include Airbus, Primax Broadcasting Network and Araw Hospitality while gold sponsors are Tanduay and Asia Brewery.
Joining the event as silver sponsors are ABS-CBN Global, Radio Mindanao Network and Philippine National Bank.
VISA is a minor sponsor while Must Glow is joining as a donor.
Complete scores:
CHAMPIONSHIP
Del Monte Team 1 460 (151-154-155), Canlubang 442 (146-148-148), Manila Southwoods 439 (135-153-151), Luisita 437 (144-145-148)
FOUNDERS
Cebu 425 (138-138-149), SF Maharlika 423 (141-133-149), The Orchard 418 (145-138-135), Sherwood Hills 405 (137-130-138), Riviera 397 (130-136-131), Alabang 393 (129-140-124), Pueblo de Oro Team 1 390 (132-122-136), Pueblo de Oro Team 2 389 (125-139-125), Tagaytay Midlands 388 (125-135-128), Negros Occidental 381 (129-128-124), Valley Golf 380 (120-138-122), Villamor Air Base 379 (127-114-138), Fil Am Hawaii 373 (120-121-132), Eagle Ridge 370 (132-130-108), Iloilo 370 (119-128-123), Wack-Wack 368 (112-124-132), Apo Golf 366 (118, 122, 126), Manila 364 (112-111-140), Team Tuga 353 (120-111-122), Coral Ocean Point 321 (96-110-115)
AVIATOR
Zamboanga 361 (110-128-123), MSU Marawi 356 (113-128-115), South Pacific 352 (114-124-114), Fil-Am Fairfield South 349 (116-114-119), U.P. Tee Jots 340 (107-122-111), Alta Vista 337 (99-128-110), Brittannika 336 (112-103-121), Mimosa 335 (107-112-116), Camp Aguinaldo 333 (98-120-115), Club Filipino de Cebu 326 (97-110-119), SFO Alliance of Golfers 321 (109-93-119), Guinhalaran 319 (108-110-101), PAR 2000 312 (105-103-104), Sarangani 310 (100, 112, 98), Van City Team 1 308 (99-107-102), Baguio 298 (96-102-100), Via Verde Los Angeles 292 (83, 92, 117), Golf & Country Club of Iligan 289 (92-114-83), Edwin Andrews Air Force Base 280 (88-98-94), Del Monte Seniors Team 2 280 (76-115-88)
SPORTSWRITER
Forest Hills 330 (123-117-90), Rancho Palos Verdes 320 (103-101-116), PGA of British Columbia 317 (112-102-103), Dirab 311 (94-92-125), Lanang 308 (95-112-101), Club Intramuros 305 (101-106-98), Taotaomona 301 (102-85-114), Leyte 297 (97-98-102), Fil-Am Fairfield North 294 (110-96-88), Filcansa 288 (91-117-80), Camp Evangelista 284 (98-90-96), South Cotabato 284 (104-87-93), Fil Oz Sydney 281 (108-82-91), Simbolo Peninsula 281 (96-84-101), Boggie Buddies Filgolfers UAE 280 (94-92-94), Cotabato 278 (89-92-97), Skywest 275 (100-97-78), Veterans 274 (91-99-84), Vancouver Golf Association of B.C. 273 (92-79-102), Bacolod 268 (91-93-84), E-Yona 247 (93-69-85), Guam Seals 241 (101-48-92), Moffett Field 2 233 (76-73-84), Negros International 141 (35-38-68)
FRIENDSHIP
West Highlands 300 (101-93-106), Mt. Malindang 299 (95-95-109), San Juanico Park 282 (93-97-92), Philam Of Central Florisa 264 (84-86-94), Paoay 261 (96-82-83), Mabuhay Golf Club of San Francisco 258 (94-91-73), Ping Golfers Club 248 (80-87-81), San Francisco East Bay 247 (79-76-92), Engineers & Architects Golf League 246 (89-88-69), Bennet Valley Golf Association 233 (63-77-93), Van City Team 2 228 (76-75-77), Pinoy Vancouver 223 (61-91-71), Liloan 215 (73-76-66), Seattle 211 (68-81-62), Fil-Am SFO 209 (75-60-74), Canphil Golf Association 206 (86-88-32), Panbreakers GC 206 (68-57-81), Guam Compadres 202(62-65-75), Moffett Field Team 1 200 (80-55-65), Pittsburg Fil-Am 199 (4388-68), Guam Seniors 195 (79-66-50), West Covina Warriors 177 (76-45-56), Filam NJ 159 (71-62-26), Tri City Golf 124 (41-63-20)
