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BARONS CLAIM TWO-POINT LEAD

Small tricks give Cangolf big leap in battle vs Country Club

By Aldrin Cardona

02/27/2009

DAVAO CITY — “Small tricks” played big in Canlubang’s comeback yesterday in the second round of the 62nd Philippine Airlnes Interclub Golf Championships as the four-peat seeking Sugar Barons vaulted into the lead of the premier Championship Division that somehow flushed their rookie rivals’ early swagger into deep red.

Their long-time experience exposing The Country Club’s probable weakness, the Sugar Barons compiled 132 points halfway through the event to claim a two-point lead over greenhorn TCC, whose first-round feat of 138 somehow stirred the field of veteran squads in this tournament, regarded as the national team championships,

With their earlier 133, the Sugar Barons now have 265 points and their familiar view from top.

Their game was steady, another heavy mid-day downpour no longer taking its effect on the rounds of many-time national Tommy Manotoc, who garnered even-par 36 points along with Jonel Ababa. The Barons veteran had birdies on Holes 1, 3, 5 and 17 to make up for bogeys interspersed from the eighth to the 16th.

That was enough to inspire Ababa, Mario Labajo (32) and Sunnyboy Gialon (28) to count. Paul Echavez, however, did not with his 26.

TCC bets searched all day for the same fire that gave them a five-point first round lead on Wednesday. But they could not connect with their second unit, with Ferdie Aunzo leading their balanced scoring with 32 points, while Art Arbole, Rufino Baybay and Peter Villaber scoring identical 31s. Even JR Tanpinco, who did not count, was impressive with his 30 points. But they fell short of target this time around.

“We’ve been in this for so long, we know the little tricks,” Canlubang skipper Luigi Yulo said after his charges reported their rounds at Apo Golf and Country Club.

But even before they came here after a rather strong first round at Rancho Palos Verdes, which was watered down only by an inspired TCC game and a strong, long rainy spell, Yulo had tinkered with his plans, fielding in more veteran players against the young TCC team.

Manotoc and Ababa turned their flights against Peter Villaber and Ferdie Aunzo into nerve-wrecking virtual matchplay battles, easily rattling the opposition and claiming seven points against the first-round leaders of this tournament backed by ABS-CBN Cable Channels & Print Media Group, Airbus, Boeing, Business Mirror, Mizuno, MTV Philippines, Radio Mindanao Network and Solar Sports as platinum sponsors.

Action Asia, Bombo Radyo, Crossover 105.1, People Asia, Royal Caribbean and XFM 92.3 are the major backers while Pagcor, Rajah Broadcasting Network, Century Park Hotel are the other supporters, while Honda Cars Davao and Honda Megamotors Corp. are holes-in-one sponsors.

Freddie Mendoza, the TCC captain, knew what went wrong with his wards, but vowed to show up their rivals today when the third round shifts back to Palos Verdes.

“It is still anybody’s game. Medyo nanggigil sina Ferdie (Aunzo) at Baybay (Bayron) to deliver, and eventually lost focus. We’ve got to keep it close tomorrow,” Mendoza said.

“Hopefully, our second unit will deliver again the way it did on the first day. Despite losing the lead, I’m still confident with my players and remain optimistic of finishing with a smashing debut,” Mendoza added.

Yulo echoed Mendoza’s sentiments, saying: “We’ve got to keep it up. We have to analyze what they are most likely to do (for the third round). We have to match their third-round score, because Apo is still the decisive course.”

Del Monte, the 2004 champion, contented itself hovering at third place, scoring 121 points for a two-round 239, while 2005 titlist Southwoods dropped from third to fourth place with 238 (121-117). Seventeen teams are competing in the main Championship Division.