Sarangani Golfers To Play In PAL Interclub This Year

Golfers from the Sarangani Golf and Country Club will again see action in this year’s prestigious 69th Philippine Airlines (PAL) Inter-Club Men’s Regular Golf tournament slated March 2 to 5 at the Mimosa Golf and Country Club in Clark, Angeles, Pampanga.

The Sarangani team will be bannered by Dexter “Wang Yu” Tan, Richie Rich Tan, Ryan Go Tan, Paul Torres, Sammy Sia, Art Ong, Jojo Sebulan, Ramon Munda, Dong Manansala and team captain George Sandoval.

Only Munda and Manansala are the rookies in the team.

“We hope to finish in the top three this time,” said Tan.

Tan, however, still doesn’t know on what division is his team playing this time.

There are now five divisions with the addition of the Aviator bracket. Aviator is a newly-created class featuring the lower half of the Founders and upper half of the Sportswriter divisions.

The other regular divisions are Championship, Founders, Sportswriters and Friendship.

Meanwhile, the 30th Philippine Airlines Seniors Interclub golf team championships tees off this Wednesday also at Mimosa.

A total of 105 teams will see action according to tournament director Henry Arabelo

Fifteen-time champion Luisita has added three new faces in its bid to unseat Canlubang in the the Mimosa Golf and Country Club in Clark, Angeles, Pampanga.

Luisita will miss long-time mainstay Francis Gaston, Seve Roxas-Chua and Rudy Amata – their spots taken by Jingy Tuason, Benjie Sumulong and Chito Laureta.

Returning for the Tarlac-based squad are last year’s individual champion Eddie Bagtas, Richie Garcia, Pepot Iñigo, Minieng Maravilla and Bong Sison.

“I believe we have a solid 8 team that can give Canlubang a good fight,” said Luisita non-playing team captain Jeric Hechanova in a text message.

Last year in Cebu City, Luisita started hot, but faded in the last three days, losing to Canlubang by 17 points.

Tommy Manotoc, who lost to Bagtas in the individual contest via countback, will spearhead Canlubang’s title-retention bid. He will be backstopped by holdovers Dave Hernandez, Rolly Viray, Mari Hechanova, Rene Unson and Tony Olives.

Former national seniors champion Abraham Aveña and Zaldy Villa are the team’s new addition.

Canlubang and Luisita have dominated the seniors’ event since 2000, each winning eight crowns.

In fact, only three other teams have won the event since its inception in 1987 – inaugural champion Club Filipino de Cebu, Villamor and Wack Wack.

The PAL Interclub is sponsored by People Asia, Travelife, Mareco Broadcasting Network (Crossover), Manila Broadcasting Corporation, Airbus, Business Mirror and Philippine National Bank.

Other supporters are Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inquirer.net, Plantation Bay Resort and Spa, Tanduay Distillers,Asia Brewery, Splash Corporation, RFM Corporation, Goldilocks, Eastgate Publishing Corporation, Robinsons Land and Rolls-Royce. (PNA) LAP/LCM/LOLITO T. DELOS REYES/LDP