Canlubang wins 9th Seniors Interclub title

Canlubang pounced on Luisita’s one-hole collapse Sunday to win the Philippine Airlines Senior Interclub golf team championships at the Mimosa Golf & Country Club.
The defending champion completed the come-from-behind victory through the solid efforts of rookie Zaldy Villa, Tommy Manotoc and Rolly Viray who combined for 149 points at the Mountainview course.
Canlubang finished the four-day event with 575 points, five points clear of Luisita whose title bid was dashed at the par-4, 15th hole.
Eddie Bagtas needed four putts to hole out while teammates Jingy Tuason, Pepot Iñigo and Herminio Maravilla hit the water on the left side of the hole.
Luisita captain Jeric Hechanova said they managed to draw level with Canlubang at one point before the tragedy.
“We lost six points from that hole,” rued Hechanova.
Villa, a 59-year-old businessman, carried the day for Canlubang with 51 points, capping his seniors’ debut with two closing birdies.
Manotoc, 67, made only one par in the last five holes for 49 points, a score matched by Viray. Rene Unson did not count with 47.
“We didn’t give up. Our chemistry and experience won it for us,” said winning team captain Tony Olives who may have played his last Interclub.
Olives failed to count in the first two days which Luisita dominated, leading Canlubang by 12 points.
Bagtas mixed four birdies with the same number of bogeys to lead Luisita with tournament-best 54 points. Tuason struggled with 47 while Iñigo made 45. Maravilla failed to count with 41.
Mimosa’s bid to become the first team outside the championship division to win the Interclub fell short, but consoled itself with the Founders’ title.
Korean Lee Dong Koo led Mimosa in the final round with 50 points while Park Chanwoo and Rico Santos added 48 and 47, respectively.
The host club wound up with 567, 13 points ahead of Cebu Country Club. Third was the Orchard with 546.
The Interclub is sponsored by People Asia, Travelife, Mareco Broadcasting Network (Crossover), Manila Broadcasting Corporation, Airbus, Business Mirror and Philippine National Bank.
Other supporters are Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inquirer.net, Plantation Bay Resort and Spa, Tanduay Distillers, Asia Brewery, Splash Corporation, RFM Corporation, Goldilocks, Eastgate Publishing Corporation, Robinsons Land, TMC, Mastercard, Hytera and Rolls-Royce.