PAL Interclub: Alabang holds one-point lead over Del Monte

DAVAO CITY—Alabang leaned on its youthful brigade's strong performance to score 124 points in the Movale system to open up a one-point lead off defending champion Del Monte and fancied Cebu Country Club in the opening round of the 65th Philippine Airlines (PAL) Interclub men's regular tournament. Santiago Lorenzo and Miguel Shah, a pair of 16-year-olds, paced Alabang. Lorenzo made three birdies as against six bogeys for a three-over-par 75, worth 33 points. Shah drained a birdie but had five bogeys for a 32. Andres Saldaña, the lefty junior who studies at the Beacon Academy in the US, poured in a 31 while Basti Lorenzo added a 28. JB Garcia's 27 hardly mattered in the five-to-play, four-to-count format played at the Rancho Palos Verdes Golf and Country Club. "We were surprised to be on top in the Championship Division. Our target was to score in the 30s. Almost all of us did actually. The young guns carried the load today," said Alabang captain Arnel Paras. Del Monte, which is seeking a back-to-back success and its first title outside their hometown in Bukidnon, got a trio of 31s from Jovanie Abaño, Julius Bautista and Leonard Lofranco. Together with skipper Yoyong Velez's 30, the team assembled 123 to share second place with Cebu County Club. "I knew they were the dark horse," Velez said of the Alabang boys. "Some of our players did not score well. But we're only one down with three days to go. We have a well-balanced team so we are still ok." Cebu Country Club, which will host next year's PAL Interclub in Cebu City, was led by Gen Nagai's 34. Bayani Garcia contributed 32 followed by the 29 and 28 each of Carl Almario and Mario Sarmiento. Manila Southwoods, meanwhile, could only produce a 103, probably way below of what leader Thirdy Escaño expected. Unheralded Charlie Chang topped with a 29. Old reliable Jun Jun Plana supported with a 26, while Joseph Tambunting and Vince Lauron had a 25 and 23 apiece. Ferdie Agustin bombed out with a 13. In the Founders Division, Orchard and Wack Wack were tied for the lead with 117 each. King Stehmeier churned out a five-over-par 77, worth 31 points for Orchard. Phil Cho collected 30, former junior star Wolen Superal chipped in 29 and Ace Stehmeier put in 27. Alan Arcilla's 20 did not count. Orchard would have gotten the advantage outright but three players scored bogeys. For Wack Wack, Tootsie de Jesus and Tommy Manotoc scored 31 apiece. Elphege Wong had a 28 while the 27 of either Kit Lopez or John Gobing will be regarded as the fourth score. Over at the Apo Golf Club, Mt. Malindang (111) was two up off Eagle Ridge (109) and three from Iligan (108) in the Sportswriters Division. In the Friendship Division, Fil-Am Hawaii was in the driver seat with 80. — JVP, GMA News