By rey bancod
BACOLOD – Winless since 2010, Canlubang is hoping to give defending champion Manila Southwoods a run for its money when the 71st Philippine Airlines Interclub golf team championships get under way Thursday in two golf courses.
Boosted by the victory of the seniors’ team over the weekend, Canlubang coach Boyet Zaragosa said they hope to complete a double which they last achieved in 2009.
“Malakas pa rin siyempre ang Manila Southwoods pero malaki tsansa natin makasilat this year,” said Zaragosa who was at Marapara Tuesday for the second day of practice.
Rupert Zaragosa, perhaps the most seasoned amateur in the field, will lead the Sugar Barons’ campaign.
Unlike last year, Zaragosa is now surrounded by young talents who have gained experience the past year, particularly Luis Castro and Jolo Magcalayo.
The other Canlubang members are Lester Lagman, Jose Luis Yulo, Marco Olives, Gido Mandanas, Jonas Magcalayo, JP de Claro and Carlo Villaroman.
Last year, Manila Southwoods routed the field by 44 points, highlighting its performance with an all-time best 155 points – 11-under par in stroke play – at the Palos Verdes in Davao.
It is highly unlikely, however, if that unprecedented feat can be duplicated at the hazard-laden Marapara and the tight and narrow Binitin.
No senior player finished in regulation last week, a testament to the courses’ difficulty.
Like in the seniors’ event, the first and final round will be played at Marapara with Binitin hosting the middle rounds.
Contrary to popular perception, Zaragosa believes that the shorter Binitin is where the championship would be won.
“You have to respect that course. It may be shorter, relatively, but the team that plays best there would most likely win this tournament,” Zaragosa said.
Yuto Katsuragawa, who shot six-under par 66 last year at Palos Verdes, is back to anchor the star-studded team. He will be backstopped by Kristoffer Arevalo, Adric Chan, Carl Corpus, Chepe Dulay, Tom Kim, Junjun Plana, Jama Reyes, Taisei Shimizu, and Luigi Paulo Wong.
Del Monte, the other team in the championship round, is fielding Gil Velez, Joel Bernaldez, Noel Langamin, Julius Langamin, Mellurence Cubillo, Roroy Minoza, Louie Dacudao, Romeo Jaraula and Rolando Breguente.
This year’s Interclub’s Platinum sponsors this year are RMN and Manila Times, while major sponsors are Mastercard, The Philippine Manila Standard, Rolls Royce, Bombardier, TV5, Primax, BusinessWorld, Crossover and Fox.
