News Release
Manotoc powers Canlubang 2 points past Luisita
CEBU CITY – Tommy Manotoc made three birdies coming home to salvage 53 points and power Canlubang to a two-point lead over defending champion Luisita halfway through the Philippine Airlines (PAL) Interclub golf team championships.
“I didn’t know that I still have it,” said the 65-year-old Manotoc, coming off a two-year layoff.
Manotoc’s one-over par effort at the demanding Club Filipino de Cebu in Danao was five shots better than the rest of the field.
Canlubang, which lost by a single point to Luisita last year in Bacolod, collected 140 points for a two-day total of 269 points.
Rolly Viray and Luigi Yulo added 44 and 43 points, respectively for the Sugar Barons. Tony Olives did not count with 37 points.
Eight points up at the start of the day, Luisita limped home with 130 points on Francis Gaston’s 45, Herminihildo Maravilla’s 44 and Seve Roxas Chua’s 41. Eduardo Sison’s 40 failed to count.
Cebu Country Club stayed in third spot with 130-256. Scoring for CCC were Koichi Horii 48, Editho Tirol 42 and Lorenzo Alaan 40.
A far fourth at 242 was Orchard. Counting for Orchard were Chito Servida 46, Luis Miguel Garcia 43 and Ryan Abdon 36.
Manotoc took a two-year sabbatical from the sport to concentrate on running the affairs of the National Golf Association of the Philippines (NGAP). He also had to deal with health issues that prevented him from playing golf.
His opening round was short of phenomenal.
“I felt good out there. I missed playing under this type of pressure,” said Manotoc who will also play for Wack Wack in the regular Interclub.
Manotoc had a shaky start with back-to-back bogeys from the second hole, but converted his first birdie on No. 3. After three straight pars, Manotoc bogeyed No. 8 and dropped two shots on No. 9 when he overshot his approach.
“I knew I had to do something. So I decided to be aggressive in the back-nine,” said Manotoc.
Using the driver at every opportunity, Manotoc started the backnine with two straight birdies, parred the next four holes before dropping another birdie on the 16th. He closed out with consecutive pars.
Manotoc said he originally wanted to play Club Filipino twice because he could not ride a cart at Mactan Golf Club.
With Canlubang surging into contention, Manotoc is being pressed to play the final round at Mactan.
“If we could find a way to bring a golf cart there, I might play,” he said.
Meanwhile, Eagle Ridge padded its lead to 11 over Negros Occidental in the Founders division.
Eagle Ridge collected 127 points from Korean Lee Tonghwa (45), Cesar Castro (42) and Ryoo Si Kun (40) to improve to 260.
Negros Occidental drew 124 points from Federico Locsin III (44), Lito Ong (41) and Rene Silos (39) for 249, five shots ahead of Pueblo de Oro.
Scoring for Pueblo de Oro were Clifford Celdran (43), Miguel Celdran (34) and Jeun Yang (34).
Hotel H20, Travelife, Boeing International Corp., Business Mirror and GE Aviation are sponsoring the twin events. Other backers include Mareco Broadcasting Network (Crossover), People Asia Magazine, Whealth Inc., Aerospace, Uniglobe Travelware Co. Inc., Tanduay Distillers and Intercontinental Manila.
Day 2 Scores:
Championship
Canlubang 269, Luisita 267, Cebu 256, Orchard 242, Alta Vista 237, Manila Golf 234, Socal Redhawk 223, Victorias 198, SFO Crystal 190, Club Filipino de Cebu 178, PGAQ 158, Fil-Am Fairfield 150, Fil-Am N J 131
Founders
Eagle Ridge 260, Negros 249, Pueblo De Oro 244, Riviera Golf 243, Coral Ocean Point Saipan 239, Camp Evangelista 237, Manila Southwoods 235, Camp John Hay 235, Wack Wack 234, Phil Navy Golf 230, Villamor 226, Mactan 225 Veterans 223, Valley Golf 223, Fil-Am Hawaii 220, Apo Golf 218, Rancho Palos Verdes 214, Davao 198, Lanang 144 Mharlika 211, Bay City Golf Club Almeda 142
Sportswriters
Delmonte Seniors 215, Forest Hills 210, Bacolod Golf 210, Zamboanga 208, Iligan Golf 201, Club 1872 Los Angeles 201, Vancouver ABC 198, San Juanico 197, Baguio Country Club 195, Mabuhay Golf of SFO 195, South Bay 191, Van City Golf 190, South Cotabato 186, Sarangani Golf 186, Cotabato Golf 186, TaoTao Muna 185, Iloilo Golf 181, UP Tee Jots 176, Brookside 174, Sienna Plantation 174, PGA British Columbia 174, Astral Asian Melbourne 172, MSU Golf 167, Guihalaran Golf 165, Travelers Golf Club of S F 161, Paoay Golf 154, Phil Am Golf Central Florida 152, Bay Area Golf Org 150, Lumbia Golf 142, Tri City Golf 92, Fil AM SFO 86
Friendship
Pinoy Vancouver 196, Guam Seals 176, Mt Malindang 174, Fil-Oz Sydney 162, Moffet Field 160, CanPhil Golf Assoc 153, Bennet Valley 151, Leyte Golf 149, Brotherhood Sharp 146, Guam Seniors 144, Greater Van Assoc 144, West Covina Warrior 141, SFO Penisula Int’l 134, Sky West 133, Par Breakers Golf of British Columbia Canada 129, SFO Alliance 128, Pittsburg Fil-Am 128, Winners Circle Golf 128, Sand Baggers of Vacouver 87.(PAL)
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