Canlubang annexes eighth seniors crown

LAPU LAPU CITY, Philippines  – Tommy Manotoc capped a triumphant return to PAL Interclub play by leading Canlubang to its eighth Seniors crown yesterday, scoring 53 points as the Sugar Barons romped off with a 17-point win over Luisita on a closing 139 at the Mactan Island Golf Club.

Manotoc gunned down five birdies but wavered at the finish, bogeying the last two holes for that 53-point effort while Mari Hechanova and Bing Bunye added 46 and 40 points, respectively, for Canlubang, which pooled a 543 total.

Rolly Viray didn’t count with a 37.

“After what I have been through in terms of my health and other issues, I feel this is God’s gift to me and I’m just so grateful that I am able to enjoy the game again,” said Manotoc.

Luisita finished with a 526 after a 125 as Francis Gaston and Philippine Sports Commission chair Richie Garcia scored 42 points each and Pepot Inigo added a 41. Rudy Amata failed to count with a 40.

Cebu Country Club wound up third, just three points behind Luisita, at 523 after a 133.

Manotoc, who skipped the Interclub for two years after battling health issues, was at one-under through 16 holes but failed to salvage pars after missing the last two greens.

Though those mishaps cost him the individual crown, the former National Golf Association of the Philippines president simply shrugged off the missed opportunity.

“I didn’t come here for personal glory. I came here to help the team,” said Manotoc.

Ex-pro Eddie Bagtas of Luisita took the individual crown after edging Manotoc in the tiebreak. Both finished the event with identical 106 points, but the former won with the better 18-hole score – 54 points –  at Mactan Thursday.

Korean Seok Kim Kwang led CCC with 49 points and got support from Japanese Matsugo Ochiai and Nonoy Tirol who had 42  apiece.

Orchard was a far fourth with 501 and Alta Vista settled for fifth with 471.

In the Founders division, Eagle Ridge edged Negros Occidental by four points despite struggling at the Club Filipino de Cebu in Danao.

Eagle Ridge collected only 119 points from Alfredo Pareja (42), George Samonte (39) and Crisostomo Borillo (38) to finish with 490.

Negros Occidental rallied with 130 points, but still came up short.

Antonio Gerardo de Leon fired 44 while Lito Ong and Toto Rivera added similar 43 for Negros Occidental.

Riviera Golf came in third with 485 and Pueblo de Oro settled for fourth with 471.