BACOLOD. — The tree-lined Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club formerly known as Marapara flashed its teeth right in the first round of the 76th Philippine Airlines (PAL) Interclub Men’s Championship division Tuesday and saw a hungry Eastridge-Primehomes team gutting out a courageous performance for a four-point lead over old tormentor and defending champion Manila Southwoods.
With Rolando Bregente Jr. shooting a one-over-par 71 worth 35 points and Chris Jhon Remata accounting for 33, the Rizal-based squad that finished second to Southwoods in the last two editions of what is known as the country’s unofficial team golf championship recorded 99 points to make its intentions of going all the way this time known.
“We’re happy to be leading despite the conditions,” non-playing skipper Gimo Asuncion said after the team counted either of the 31s of Gary Sales and Edison Tabalin. “The course played very difficult–it was windy, hot and, according to my players, control of the ball was almost impossible.”
Southwoods, the champion in five of the last six editions, got 34 points from Perry Bucay, 31 from Filipino-Japanese Shin Suzuki and 30 from Santino Laurel for its 95 as reigning national champion Zeus Sara failed to count with a 29.
Tagaytay Highlands-Team IMG was just another point behind after Terrence Macatangay matched the best round over the tree-lined layout of 35 points also turned in by Bregente. Francis Bumagat scored 32 and South Korean Steve Yoon had 27 as Tagaytay threw away the 21 of Joaquin Tolentino.
Action shifts to the Bacolod Golf Club for the next two days, and Eastridge still has an ace up its sleeve in Jeff Lumbo waiting in the wings, even as Southwoods has champion ex-pro Jerome Delariarte ready as it tries not to be buried in too deep a hole.
“Jerome will definitely play (in the second round),” Southwoods non-playing captain Thirdy Escano said, referring to the former The Country Club champion as his “secret weapon, who will be playing and guiding our young players starting in the second round.”
Del Monte, the last team in the centerpiece field, will start the second round 15 points down after getting 30 points from Alexis Nailga, 29 from young Ralph Batican and 25 from Cliff Nuneza.
Ambagan Golf Club shows the way in the Aviator division after pooling 88 points built around the 32 points of Frankie Custodio and the 31 of Wilmer Linuaje over at BGC. The team also counted either 25s of Francisco Paita Jr. or Joey Cordero to pace Club Filipino de Cebu.
The Veterans Golf Club was another three points back, with Camp Aguinaldo another point behind.
Brittannika Team 2 opened up an eight-point lead over Camp Evangelista Golf Club in the Sportswriters division after getting 31 points from Travis Jay Cadungog, 28 from Ariel Tabiling and 17 from Mario Gunabe in pooling 76 also at BGC.
The 76th staging of the PAL Interclub is supported by Platinum sponsors PRIMAX Broadcasting Network and Asian Journal. Mastercard is a gold sponsor while RMN is a silver sponsor.
