Canlubang, Luisita share
lead in PAL Seniors
BACOLOD. — Veteran Tommy Manotoc sank a 25-foot putt on his last hole Thursday, enabling defending champion Canlubang to match the opening-day output of rival Luisita in the opening round of the Philippine Airlines Interclub seniors tournament at the Negros Golf and Country Club here.
With the Sweeties having amassed 129 points for the day, Manotoc came to the Sugar Barons’ rescue, sinking that long putt on the ninth hole, his finishing hole, as Canlubang, seeking its fifth straight Seniors’ title, kept in step with its Tarlac-based rival.
Manotoc finished with 45 points, the same output of Luisita’s top man, veteran Iggy Clavecilla, in the event presented by platinum sponsors Airbus, Boeing, 105.1 Crossover and Radio Mindanao Network
Mari Hechanova and Bing Bunye added 42 points each for Canlubang, with new recruit Dan Morales scoring 38 that failed to count under the four-to-play, three-to-count format.
Carlo Gamban backed up Clavecilla with 44 points while the 40 points of either Lino Magpantay or PAL flight purser Pepot Iñigo rounded out Luisita’s opening-day charge.
Sharing the opening-day limelight was Ernie Mendoza, who plays for Filcansa in the Sportswriters Division. He shot the tournament’s first ace at the par-three No. 8 of Marapara.
The Sugar Barons, like everybody else, struggled with the strong winds in mid-morning play, with nobody managing to break par. The field also had to deal with awfully slow greens.
The opening-day tie for the lead came as a surprise because Luisita, fielding its big guns early, usually takes the early lead. Last year, the Tarlac-based team opened up an 18-point spread in the first round but sputtered in the next three rounds to eventually finish second.
Philippine Navy started its campaign on a high note, compiling 123 points to take a three-point lead over Villamor and five over Apo in the Friendship Division of the tourney also backed by Action Asia, GE Aviation, MTV Philippines, People Asia, Royal Caribbean, Business Mirror, Philippine Graphic, www.philstar.com, Sabre Airline Solutions/Sabre Travel Network, Resort World Manila, Century Park Hotel, DWWW 774 AM, Panay News, Master Card and Thales Aerospace.