CEBU CITY — Dan Cruz was still bristling with anger when he stepped on the 16th tee at the Alta Vista Golf Club during the final round of the Philippine Airlines Senior Interclub golf team championships on Saturday.
Cruz had thrown away three shots in the previous two holes, including a double on 14, and badly wanted to win it for Luisita.
“There were two remaining par-5s left and I knew I had to attack them to get the birdies,” said Cruz who was playing for Luisita for the first time.
Cruz went on to birdie the last three holes, score 54 points, and power Luisita to a seven-point win over Canlubang.
He set up the tap-in birdies on the par-5 16 and 18 and used a seven-iron to chip it five feet past the hole on 17 for another birdie.
The closing birdies were what Luisita needed to hold off Canlubang which posted the best score of the day.
“We are happy and grateful for the victory,” said Luisita non-playing captain Jeric Hechanova. “We had planned and figured this out months ago taking into account the schedule of our players.”
Luisita also drew 51 from Chino Raymundo and 46 from Steve Joel McDonald to capture its 17th seniors’ title. Rodel Mangulabnan did not count with 42.
Canlubang, hurt by the absence of Tommy Manotoc, fought to the end before fizzling out in the closing holes.
Damasus Wong was 2-under through 13 holes before he made four straight bogeys. He birdied 18 to score 53 points.
Mari Hechanova was just 1-over going to the last three holes but finished with successive bogeys for 50 points.
Together with Abraham Avena’s 49, Canlubang closed with 152 points and 563 overall.
Manila Southwoods, drawing 54 points from rookie Junjun Plana, came in third with 564.
Also scoring for the Carmona-based squad were Theodore Pascual 49 and Joseph Tabunting 45.
Del Monte, getting 47 from Crispin Aparilla, 46 from Arsenio Mondilla, and 45 from Ramon Velez, took fourth with 530 points.
Cebu Country Club, the overnight leader, faded with 141 points but posted a runaway 34-point victory over The Orchard in the Founders division.
Eric Deen led CCC with 49 followed by Nelson Yuvallos 47 and Kyu Ok On 45.
The annual event, held with the theme “Back to Ignite,” 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 the Department of Tourism, Ogawa, Newport World Resorts, Rolls Royce and Boeing.
