WHEN the Philippine Airlines (PAL) Interclub returns to Bacolod next month, the triumph of the human spirit will be at the back of most players' minds.
Why?
Well, the last time the event was held there, action at Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club and Bacolod Golf and Country Club was one of the last sports events held before COVID-19 forced the world into lockdown within the next few days.
Less than a week after Manila Southwoods and Canlubang won the Men's Regular and Seniors divisions titles, respectively, lockdowns were ordered worldwide because of the pandemic that would drag for more than two years.
Marapara, Binitin back in spotlight
And from Feb. 7 to 21, the courses formerly known as Marapara and Binitin will again be the venues for the event's 76th edition where Southwoods will be gunning for a fourth straight men's crown and Del Monte a repeat of the PAL Seniors Interclub upset it posted on home turf last year in Cagayan de Oro and Bukidnon.
"Bacolod has been the site of many memorable Interclub championships and we are sure of having the same keen competition this year," PAL president Stanley K. Ng said. "As we return to the City of Smiles, let's also celebrate the triumph of the human spirit through the sport we love as we wish every team the best out there next month."
Known as the country's unofficial national golf team championship, the Interclub was forced to take a two-year leave because of the pandemic and resumed in 2023 in Cebu where Southwoods again ruled regular play and Luisita dislodged Canlubang.
This year, Seniors action gets going first on Feb. 10, with the men starting their 72-hole championship eight days later.
Competition in the 55-and-over division is deemed to be a wide-open race this year with some of the talents that have beefed up Cangolf and Luisita either begging off or playing for other squads.
Canlubang and Luisita have won a combined 29 titles, with the Sugar Barons holding an 11-5 edge since 2006 after snapping the Luisitans' six-year reign that started in 2006.
In 24 years, only Del Monte was able to break that duopoly in Senior play, and the Bukidnon-based bets will come to Bacolod with basically the same lineup that posted that upset last year.
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