PAL Interclub: Cebu grabs championship division lead

DAVAO CITY—Cebu Country Club (CCC) assembled 134 Stableford points for 257 to seize the championship division's overall lead midway through the 65th Philippine Airlines (PAL) Interclub on Thursday. Cebu holds a 10-point lead over defending champion Del Monte and in the process dislodged erstwhile leader Alabang. Lloyd Go fired 36 points, equivalent to an even par 72 in regulation, to assume the leader's role for Cebu. He had pars in the first six holes then sank birdies on the seventh and ninth to end up with 20 at the turn. Go picked up his game in the 13th and had birdies on Nos. 16 and 18 for a closing 16. He was backed up the 35 of Japanese bet Gen Nagae, the 33 of junior golfer Gio Gandionco, and the 30 of either Mark Dy or Eric Deen, to the delight of Cebu captain Montito Garcia. "I was disappointed on Wednesday. But now, I'm ecstatic. The guys more than made up than our 123 in the first day," said Garcia, the CCC president. Del Monte remains in second place with 247 after 124 at the Apo Golf Club's tree-lined fairways. Clyde Mondilla started at the back nine and gunned four birdies to rebound from a pick up on the dog-leg, par-four 10th with a nice view of Mt. Apo in the background. The former national amateur champion—in the front side—bogeyed Nos. 2, 4, 5 and 6 to negate his birdies on Nos. 3 and 9 that ruined his strong start. Noel Langgamin and Lawrence Cubillo each contributed 31s while Magno Arancon added a 26. Mark Mondilla's 24 was flushed out from the five-to-play, four-to-count format. Alabang's 15 minutes of fame came to a disappointing end as it slid down to third with a 104 for 228. Only Jama Reyes breached the 30-point barrier. Santiago Lorenzo and Miguel Shah shot 26 each for surprise opening-round leader Alabang. Skipper Arnel Paras and Dax Garcia accounted for 22s, of which either counted for the squad. Two-time winner Manila Southwoods pooled in a 109, behind Jun Jun Plana's 31, for 212 but was still 16 points behind Alabang. In the founders division, the Wack Wack par busters churned out 116 but it was enough to put them in the driver's seat with 233. Apo Golf (122) and Riviera (121) were tied for second on 229s. Orchard Golf was penalized two strokes on the team score for a 111 for 228. Fil-Am Hawaii (72-150) was the top team in the friendship division over at the Rancho Palos Verdes course. — JVP, GMA News