PAL Interclub: Del Monte trims Cebu's lead to seven 

DAVAO CITY—Cebu Country Club's plan of increasing its lead failed to materialize in the third round as defending champion Del Monte trimmed its 10-point lead to seven in the championship division of the 65th Philippine Airlines (PAL) Interclub tournament at the Rancho Palos Verdes Golf and Country Club. Up by 10 after 36 holes, the Cebuanos carried a three-point advantage with a hole left and needed a strong finish on No. 18 to regain four points in the process. Carl Almario's 32 lifted the team to a 122 for day and a 379 total as action shifts to the demanding Apo layout on Saturday. "It was a good game but it was not the result that we wanted. We are only up by seven. Of course, we're fielding in our best five against the expected strong five of Del Monte," said Cebu club president Montito Garcia. Garcia's fab five in the finale will feature him plus Lloyd Jefferson Go, Gio Gandionco, Mark Dy and Eric Deen. Del Monte was the biggest gainer Wednesday despite fielding in probably its weakest squad. Leonardo Lofranco played a monster game of one-over-par 73, worth 35 PAL points, while captain Yoyong Velez supported with a 34. Magno Arancon and Mark Mondilla backed up with 30 and 26, respectively. Clyde Mondilla, the former national amateur champion, and Jovanie Abaño, the recent ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour Qualifying School winner, are expected to carry the scoring load in the final day with Noel Langgamin, Lawrence Cubillo and JJ Gamolo. Alabang picked up 37 points, a one-under-par 71 in regulation, from Justin Quiban. However, he never got ample support from teammates Dax Garcia (34), AR Ramos (30), and Jama Reyes (29) for 130 and 358 aggegate. Wack Wack (353) continues to dominate the founders division with one round left but found a new challenger in Orchard Golf (349). Oliver Gan's 32 points came from his four-over-par 76 card in regulation. Other scorers for Wack Wack were Tommy Manotoc with 31, Garry Uy with 30 and Gabriel Manotoc with 27. Tootsie de Jesus's 26 was flushed out. Orchard got 31 from former junior golf star Wolen Superal plus 30s each from Ace Stehmeier, TJ Benitez and Tonito Payumo at the Rancho Palos Verdes layout. Louie Garcia's 27 did not count. Camp John Hay assembled 97 points on Steve McDonald's 29, Jeff Razon’s 24, Jay Co's 23 and Euls Agustin's 21 for a 300, nine ahead from Mt. Malindang's 291 after a 100. Eagle Ridge was third with 97-287. "We'll try our best to maintain the lead," said CJH skipper Monet Garcia. In the friendship division, Austral-Asian produced 96 markers at the Apo Golf for 233, 14 ahead from closest pursuer PGA British Columbia's 219. Second day leader Fil-Am slumped with a 64 to be on 216 and sat on third place followed by Cotabato (74) and UP Tee Jots (72) for 210. Meanwhile, Al Quitangon of Riviera Golf Club (Founders Division) won a free Business Class ticket to the US for sinking a hole-in-one at Rancho Palos Verdes' No. 17. Guinhalaran Golf Club's Leonides Latayan (Sportswriters division) also won a free US ticket. — JVP, GMA News