BY Jimmy A. Cantor

BACOLOD — With Mario Labajo sparking a searing second-round charge, Canlubang stormed to a 24–point lead over its closest rivals Thursday and looked all set to complete a cherished double three-peat in the Philippine Airlines Interclub golf tournament here.

Hardly showing the effects of a two-point penalty in first-round play last Wednesday, Canlubang amassed a second-round 137 built around the 39 points of the 36-year-old Labajo at the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club for a two-day total of 267, shredding the challenge of former champions Manila Southwoods and Del Monte.

"You can say it’s in the bag," exclaimed Canlubang skipper Luigi Yulo, who also got 36 points from Joey Huervo and 32 from Rufino Bayron. Completing team scoring was the 30 of either Joseph Labajo, Mario’s elder brother, or 18-year-old rookie Zanie Boy Gialon, whose first-round misadventure cost the team two points.

"We really wanted a comfortable lead so there would be no pressure in the last two days. That was our target since day one," added Yulo, also the skipper of Canlubang’s seniors team that completed the other half of the team’s target this year–to match the double three-feat completed by Luisita in 1991-93.

Southwoods, which beat Canlubang for the title three years ago by a measly two points, could only come up with a second-round 116 and slid to a share of second with 2004 champion Del Monte at 243, its title hopes all but dashed to pieces.

"We really played bad today," Southwoods captain Thirdy Escano said, "but we are not giving up. I am going to field my best five tomorrow because there’s no other way but to cut Canlubang’s lead going into the last round."

Tonite Fernando came up with 35 for Southwoods but Jin Jun Jong managed just 28. Jun Jun Plana had 27 while Justin Lim Jap scored 26. Benjie Sarmiento scored 27 but was disqualified when his marker failed to sign his scorecard.

Aside from having to contend with Canlubang’s murderous surge, Southwoods will also have to fend off Del Monte, which came up with day’s second best-round of 120 to forge a two-way tie for second at 243.

Although Del Monte skipper Yoyong Velez didn’t count with a 22 under the five-to-play, four-to-count format, Korean Park Jun Sub came up with 33 that went with the 31 of Jett Plete, 29 of Julius Bautista and 27 of Art Arbole in the tourney backed by Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier, GE Aviation, MTV Philippines and Solar Sports as platinum sponsors.

"We didn’t expect to tie Southwoods but with the tight score we have an opportunity to get second place," said Velez.

Escano said Anthony Fernando, Gene Bondoc and Tonlits Asistio will carry the fight for Southwoods in the penultimate round Friday, with the two others to be decided in a team meeting Thursday night. It’s likely the fourth man will be Miko Yee.

Yulo will have the luxury of either going for the kill in third round play at the Bacolod Golf and Country Club or resting his mainstays for the final round on Saturday in the tourney also supported by Action Asia, Business Mirror, Crossover, PACSPORTS, Royal Caribbean, Fortune Tobacco, GECAS, MasterCard, People Asia, RMN, Bombo Radyo, Callaway Golf, Century Park Hotel, Lufthansa Technik and Patio Pacific Boracay.

The 5-foot Mario Labajo, a product of the caddies program launched by Canlubang mainstay Tommy Manotoc since 2005, had five birdies, three of them coming in succession from the 11th hole, against two bogeys.

"Komportable ako dito dahil para din itong Matina," he said, referring to his home course in Davao. "Ito na ang best round ko sa Interclub."