The 75th Edition of the PAL Interclub finally tees off Thursday, February 22, 2024 with the Senior Division at the Pueblo de Oro Golf and Country Club in Cagayan de Oro City and at the Del Monte Golf and Country Club in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon.
Cagayan de Oro city rolled out the red carpet for the event’s diamond anniversary with a welcome dinner at the Mallberry Hotel on Monday. Participants were treated to an evening of cultural dances highlighted by the performance of the city’s young dancesport athletes.
Some 93 teams are competing in the Seniors Division with the International delegation the largest with 42, Luzon 21, Mindanao 20, and the Visayas 10.
Meanwhile, some 89 teams are competing in the Men’s Division with Mindanao having 28, International 27, Luzon 23 and the Visayas 11.
The New & The Classic
The fairways are rolling fast in both courses that will be used for the 75th Philippine Airlines Interclub golf team championships but senior participants will find reaching the greens challenging.
“You better use one club stronger in every approach,” said Dan Salvador III of Tagaytay Midlands who sampled the Pueblo de Oro Golf and Country Club on Monday. “The winds are heavy.”
Dry conditions make the fairways firm but Pueblo’s greens are unpredictable. Some are receptive and others are not.
Players, however, praise the pristine conditions of the greens at Pueblo and at the Del Monte Golf Club in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon.
Groundskeepers at Pueblo did a good job rehabilitating the greens which a few months ago had brown patches.
image courtesy of Raphy M. Arcaina
While the bombers off the tee will have wider fairways to deal with at Pueblo, it is the opposite at the tree-lined old course known for being home to two of the country’s greatest golfers – Frankie Miñoza and the late Celestino Tugot.
Dan Cruz said Del Monte favors players who hit their drivers straight.
“I spent a lot of times, punching shots under the trees,” he said during his practice round on Tuesday.
Julius Bautista, one of Del Monte’s top amateurs who will see action next week, said the greens are hard, advising players to hit it short and let the ball roll into the green.
“Puwede tirahin ang green kung ang pin nasa likod,” Bautista said.
Primera Division
The first round in the championship division will be held at the Pueblo Golf and Country Club with next two rounds at Del Monte before returning to Pueblo for the diamond anniversary finale.
Defending Champion Luisita faces tough odds versus reinforced squads from Canlubang and Manila Southwoods, with the hometown Del Monte squad a dangerous dark horse.
“Will be tough to retain the championship but players are ready and excited for the tournament to start,” said Luisita non-playing captain Jeric Hechanova. “Luisita will be the underdog this year.”
Competition also tees off in the Founders, Aviator, Sportswriters, and Friendship divisions.
Discover the wonders of Bukidnon’s Del Monte Golf Club, one of the venues for this year’s PAL Interclub Tournament
Four teams are entered in the Championship Division, 20 in the Founders Division, 19 in the Aviator, 24 in the Sportswriters, and 24 in the Friendship. 91
The event is celebrating its diamond anniversary at Cagayan de Oro which last hosted the tournament in 2011.
PAL INTERCLUB CEREMONIAL TEE-OFF
Howard Lance Uyking, Philippine Airlines assistant vice president for brand management, hits the ceremonial ball ushering in the PAL Seniors Interclub golf team championships in Cagayan de Oro City at Pueblo de Oro golf course on Feb. 20
Others in photo are (from left) PAL vice president for sales Salvador Britanico, Pueblo de Oro general manager Kitts Pinga, Del Monte golf chairman Robert Wapano, Cagayan de Oro councilor George Sio Goking, Limketkai Luxe Hotel GM Jerome dela Fuente, PAL Express president Rabbi Ang, PAL tournament executive committee member May Flores, PAL vice president for security Teddy Quinzon and PAL VP for planning Christoph Gaertner.
Canlubang looms as the biggest threat to Luisita’s title-retention bid.
With the addition of John Paul Reyes and Jess Hernandez, Canlubang skipper Tony Olives said they have a good chance of regaining the crown.
“We have two scorers coming in to replace our two stoppers,” Olives said. “We can say we have a deep bench.”
Manila Southwoods added many-time Alabang Country Club champion Jorge Gallent to its lineup, making a serious bid to end the Luisita-Canlubang stranglehold of the championship division.
With Gallent teaming up with Junjun Plana, the Carmona-based squad and Del Monte are expected to make the event a four-horse race. (reports collated from Inquirer Golf and the Philippine Airlines Interclub page.
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