CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Eastridge Golf and Country Club is parading seven players from talent-rich Mindanao as it ramps up its bid in dethroning Manila Southwoods when the 75th Philippine Airlines Men’s Regular Interclub kicks off at Pueblo de Oro Golf and Country Club and the nearby Del Monte Golf Club in Manolo Fortich on Thursday.
Del Monte Golf Club in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon is also expected to make a strong title run as well as South Pacific Davao which is made up of some of the country’s top junior players.
Defending champion Manila Southwoods, however, remains the odds-on favorite.
Led by pro-bound Aidric Chan, the Carmona-based squad boasts a star-studded lineup that includes Ryan Monsalve, Lanz Uy, Masaichi Otake, Shinichi Suzuki, Zach Castro, Miko Granada, and veteran Junjun Plana.
“We have a pretty solid team, but championships are not won on paper,” Southwoods official Jerome Delariarte said.
Eastridge, which placed second in Cebu City last year, and Del Monte loom as the biggest threats to Southwoods’ quest for a ninth championship.
Captained by veteran Gary Sales, Eastridge has six players who come from Davao — Edison Tabalin, Alexander Bisera, Ronel Tagaan, Jhondie Quibol, Chris Remata and Loyd Labrador. The eighth man, Jeffrey Lumbo — hails from General Santos City.
Del Monte won the championship division the last time the PAL Interclub was held here in 2011.
Following a breakthrough in the senior event last week, Del Monte is aiming for a rare sweep.
“We are going for it,” said Del Monte skipper Yoyoy Velez, one of three senior team members playing in the regular tournament.
Julius Bautista, a member of the 2011 squad, is in Del Monte’s first team as well as top junior golfers Xhylas Luzon and Cliff Nuneza.
South Pacific Davao is playing in the championship division for the first time, fielding the region’s top junior golfers led by Junior Golf Federation of the Philippines Mindanao Open champion Nino Villasencio.
Play in the championship class kicks off at Pueblo before shifting to Del Monte in the next two days. The final round will be played at Pueblo.
For the first time in its history, the format has been changed to four-to-play, three-to-count.
Competition is also expected to be tight in the Founders division with the return of many-time champion Canlubang after a five-year absence.
Expected also to contend are Cebu Country Club, Orchard, Del Monte Team 2, and Wack Wack, among others.
The 75th staging of the PAL Interclub is supported by diamond sponsors Mastercard and Asian Journal.
Platinum sponsors include Airbus, Primax Broadcasting Network and Araw Hospitality while gold sponsors are Tanduay and Asia Brewery.
Joining the event as silver sponsors are ABS-CBN Global, Radio Mindanao Network and Philippine National Bank.
VISA is a minor sponsor while Must Glow is joining as a donor.
