CEBU CITY — Junjun Plana is stuck in his Manila office while most of the participants are already sampling the two courses that will be used for the 74th Philippine Interclub golf team championships set to kick off Wednesday.
“I have until Wednesday to finish my work,” said the 55-year-old who will make his Seniors debut for Manila Southwoods.
Plana is not a big fan of practice rounds, preferring to rest and prepare his body.
He is set to fly in on Thursday, just in time for the last two rounds.
“Bahala na si Batman,” jested Plana, whose entry makes Southwoods a dangerous dark horse.
Plana is fresh from teaming up with San Miguel Beer coach Jorge Gallent to win its fifth straight low gross title at the Alabang Country Club in Muntinlupa.
The Carmona-based squad also has a new addition in Ronnie Littaua but non-playing captain Freddie Mendoza admitted the team still lacks the depth to contend for the crown.
“We have four strong players but the four others are iffy,” Mendoza said.
Luisita is parading Marty Ilagan while Cebu Country Club is fielding former pro Carl Almario putting added pressure on Canlubang’s
title-retention bid.
Tommy Manotoc, still fit at 74, said the rookies could make a big difference.
“They are longer than (the old players), that’s for sure. And with the tournament playing forward tees, we could expect fireworks,” said the Canlubang ace, who practiced at the Alta Vista Golf Club and Club Filipino de Cebu.
Canlubang is fielding the same team that won in 2020 before the Interclub was shelved for two years due to the coronavirus pandemic.
More than 1,500 players representing 178 squads are entered in the two-week event.
The Seniors’ event has drawn a total of 100 teams, nearly half coming from the United States, Canada, the Middle East, and Malaysia, among others.
It will use the Molave scoring system that awards 3 points for par. A regulation round is equivalent to 54 points.
Each team is allowed to field a maximum of four players per round with only the top three scores counting. Each player is limited to two rounds.
The annual event, considered the country’s unofficial national team championship, is supported by platinum sponsors ABS-CBN Global, Asian Journal, Airbus, and NUSTAR Resort and Casino.
Gold sponsors include Radio Mindanao Network, Mastercard, Primax, University of Mindanao Broadcasting Network, PLDT/Smart and Konsulta MD.
Joining the event as silver sponsors are Philippine National Bank, Biocostech and VISA.
Minor sponsors are Bollore Logistics, Manila Standard, Tanduay Brands International, and Asia Brewery while donors are Department of Tourism, Ogawa, Newport World Resorts, Rolls Royce and Boeing.
