CARL ALMARIO and Jufil Sato fired eight-over par 80s worth 46 points each on Friday, enough for Cebu Country Club to stay atop the overall race in the Philippine Airlines Seniors Interclub championship with Luisita the new pursuer just two points behind in Cebu.
Almario, the ex-pro, and Sato saw action for the second straight round and the home bets tallied 133 for the day at Club Filipino in Danao for 423 overall, 33 points ahead of The Orchard in the lower Founders Division race but with an eye on the bigger prize as the 72-hole championship winds down at well-manicured Alta Vista Saturday.
Antonio San Juan’s 41 counted as the last Cebu CC score, while the Luisitans were led by the 48 of Benjie Sumulong in a third round 138. Manila Southwoods grabbed second spot in the centerpiece division with a 134 for 416, seven behind in the overall racem after drawing 48 points from Jun Jun Plana and 46 from Joseph Tambunting.
Luisita will have a very potent roster coming out for the final day, and Jeric Hechanova, the non-playing skipper, is happy at how things turned out after the third skirmish.
“We are happy and confident because we have a very solid team tomorrow,” Hechanova said as Chino Raymundo, ex-pro Dan Cruz, Steve McDonald and rookie Marty Ilagan come out for the final 18. “Our lineup for four days, it seems, is working.
“The game plan for today was to not be left behind by that much,” Hechanova explained.. “But we were lucky and fortunate that hwe sliced the lead of Cebu.”
Eric Deen, Nelson Yuvallos, Kyu Ok on and Jay Yuvallos, who scored 53 points on Thursday in Cebu CC’s second round 140, will come out for the final round for the Cebuanos, even as ,Southwoods will have the same four on the course.
Cangolf, meanwhile, got 48 points from Abe Rosal, 41 from Zaldy Villa and 36 from Rene Unson in a 125 for 413, now 10 points behind and with a lot of load left on the shoulders of Abe Avena, Damas Wong, Mari Hechanova and Rolly Viray for the Sugar Barons’ title repeat bid.
The annual event, considered the country’s unofficial national team championship, was shelved for two years due to the coronavirus pandemic, and the 74th staging of the event is supported by platinum sponsors ABS-CBN Global, Asian Journal, Airbus and NUSTAR Resort and Casino.
Gold sponsors include Radio Mindanao Network, Mastercard, MemoRieS FM 89.9 Cebu, University of Mindanao Broadcasting Network, PLDT/Smart and Konsulta MD.
Joining the event as silver sponsors are Philippine National Bank, Biocostech and VISA and the ninor sponsors are Bollore Logistics, Tanduay Brands International, and Asia Brewery while donors are Department of Tourism, Ogawa, Newport World Resorts, Rolls Royce and Boeing.