BACOLOD - Eastridge-Primehomes won its first Philippine Airlines (PAL) Interclub Men's Championship division on Friday, doing it in wire-to-wire style with a 21-point victory over Manila Southwoods after saving its best for last.
"Finally. This is very sweet," non-playing skipper Gimo Asuncion said in the din of the celebration at Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club (formerly Marapara). "It has been quite a long journey for this team, a journey that had its heartaches and lessons."
Ronel Taga-an fired a three-under-par 67 worth 39 points to pace Eastridge's closing 106 points that also counted Jeff Lumbo's 35 and the 32 of Edison Tabalin, and the Binangonan-based crew tallied 415 points to post the win running away.
COLUMN: After all these years, PAL Interclub hasn't lost a beat
"The boys performed so well," Gary Sales, the ex-tee boy turned businessman who helped put this team together in 2021, said after failing to count with a 30. "I am very proud of what this team has done. This definitely didn't come easy for us.
"We are looking forward to keeping this team intact as much as we can and continue to learn as a team."
Asuncion said only Lumbo will be leaving the team after this tournament to turn pro, and that the club has "at least a couple of players ready to take his place."
The dethroned champions returned to its struggles at the tree-lined, bending layout, tallying just 99 points with Perry Bucay's 35 leading the way. Together with the 32s of Zeus Sara and Santino Laurel, the Carmona-based squad that was denied a sixth title in the last seven years amassed 394 points in second spot.
"We will definitely be going back to the drawing board," non-playing Southwoods captain Thirdy Escano said as the club stands to lose some of its standouts who have standing scholarship offers in the US. "We gave it a good fight but just fell short."
Tagaytay Highlands-Team IMG wound up third, 40 points off Eastridge after tallying a closing 95. Terrence Macatangay fired 35 points, Masaichi Otake had 34 and Justin Tambunting rounded out scoring with 26.
Del Monte Golf Club brought up the rear with a 363 total after accounting for 94 fourth round points. The club made a successful defense of the Seniors champonship last week.
Meanwhile, Canlubang went on to formalize its Founders Division romp after totaling 97 points over at Bacolod Golf Club, where John Bernis tallied a level par 70 for 36 points to lead a final round 97 and 381 overall.
That was good for a 15-point victory over Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club, which closed out with 98 led by the 37 points of Boby Salahog, with Cebu Country Club checking in another six points behind after a 92 headed by Mark Dy's 32 points.
The seasoned Abe Rosal, a hero of many Cangolf championships in the centerpiece Seniors and Men's divisions in the past, contributed 31 points with Jess Hernandez rounding out scoring for the Sugar Barons with 30.
Riviera Golf finished fourth a point behind Cebu CC as the 31s of Henry Bolano and Takuya Kawamura paced their closing 92. Eric Escalona's 30 was the last score that counted.
The 76th staging of the PAL Interclub is supported by Platinum sponsors PRIMAX Broadcasting Network and Asian Journal.
Mastercard is a gold sponsor while RMN is a silver sponsor.
'ABS-CBN Global is joining as a bronze sponsor while VISA, Philippine National Bank, SM Bacolod, Tanduay and Asia Brewery are minor sponsors. Citadines is a hotel partner.
Partial results:
CHAMPIONSHIP
Eastridge 415 (99-105-105-106), Manila Southwoods 394 (95-94-108-99), Tagaytay Highlands Team IMG 375 (94-98-88-95), Del Monte 363 (84-93-92-94)
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