Golf: Orchard stays on top halfway through PAL Interclub

BACOLOD — Orchard maintained the overall lead despite the modest charge of Alabang at the halfway mark in the championship division of the 67th Philippine Airlines (PAL) Interclub Mens’ Tournament at the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club on Thursday.
                
King Stehmeier and teener JP de Claro took over as the 1-2 punch of the rookie team in the premiere division with 32 and 29 markers, respectively. And with the 25 of TJ Benitez and 23 of either Ace Stehmeier or Aian Arcilla, Orchard collected 109 for a 238 total.
                
“I think we have the edge now. Today, I got a bit scared because we did not play solid as the first round. But the guys turned around and gained ground late. We will try to balance the roster on the third day,” said Orchard captain Francis Montallana.
                
Del Monte, the 2011 titlist on its home turf, had 106 for 232, good enough to contend for the title.  Lawrence Cubillo paced the Cagayan de Oro club with 29 and was backed up by Noel Langgamin’s 28, Magno Arancon’s 27 and Jovencio Lusterio’s 21.
                
“We are still very much in the fight.  We need to slice down Orchard lead in the third to have a realistic chance of making it all the way. We have enough manpower in the next two days to pull off a major upset,” said Del Monte lady skipper Kristin Leonen.

Alabang assembled a 110, thanks to the 37 of junior golfer Justin Quiban and the 34 of lefty Andres Saldana. Miguel Shah’s 24 and Paul Salvador’s 23 made it 227 in 36 holes.
                
The squad is expected to slug it out in the penultimate day with three of its top guns — Jama Reyes, Basti Lorenzo and Gab Manotoc — seeing action.
                
“We have enough gas in the tank.  We are going to give them a good fight with the new guys coming in,” Alabang captain JB Garcia said.
                
Defending champion Cebu Country Club was 13 points off at 225 after pooling together a 110 at the Marapara course. A pair of 29's was delivered by Montito Garcia and Bayani Garcia while Marko Sarmiento and Andre Borromeo each scored 26. - AMD, GMA News