DEFENDING Founders Division champion Cebu Country Club (CCC) dropped to third spot despite another solid performance from Bayani Garcia on Day 3 of the 70th Philippine Airlines (PAL) Interclub Men's Regular Golf Tournament in Davao City Friday, March 3.
But the Cebuanos are confident to recover in the final day of competition this Saturday.
Garcia on Friday carded 35 at his favorite course Apo Golf and Country Club (AGCC), on the heels of scoring 36 Thursday, to pace CCC's 119 total on the third round.
CCC, thus, collected 354, nine points behind current division leader Orchard Golf and Country Club that registered 363.
Riviera Golf, which came third on Thursday, snatched the second spot with 355, just one-point ahead of CCC that placed second on Day 2.
Joven Neri added 30 while team captain Ramontito Garcia and Eric Deen made 27 points each.
“Our chances are always good. As long as there are holes to be played, chances are always there. Ten strokes, not little but it isn't much also. At least we're in striking distance. It's not over until the last man signs his card,” Garcia, in a media interview at the AGCC clubhouse Friday afternoon, said.
Assessing his performance on the third round, he said it was “a very testing round.”
“I've stumbled in few holes but I was able to stir it correctly,” Garcia said.
Julius Pierre Neri, son of VoxPop Davao Publishing Incorporated Chairman Julius Neri Jr., in a separate interview, said CCC will have a good chance of catching up this Saturday.
“We have a good line up, all of us have PAL Interclub experience. We can catch up. We're sure we will have good rounds,” Neri, who took a short break from a practice round with his teammates, said.
Neri, who submitted 39 at the Rancho Palos Verdes Golf and Country Club (RPVGCC) earlier, said he will play his usual brand of game this Saturday.
“I always do aggressive play, always go for goal. Aggressive but smart. I felt aggressive the last time I played last Wednesday and it worked for me. So I just stick to the game plan,” Neri said, adding that he will play shot per shot and not think of his score.
He will be joined by teammates Marko Sarmiento, Ferdinand Chua, Harvey Sytiongsa and Andre Borromeo in today's final round at RPVGCC.
Enrico Gavino, Juan Karloz Alba and Denden de Castro chipped in 33, 32 and 31, respectively, for Apo Golf that occupied the fourth place with 352 points. Jorge Martinez settled for 24 points.
RPVGCC, for its part, struggled at 11th with a three-day total of 314 points behind topscorer Juan Carlos Torre (30).
In the Aviator Division, the Davao City Golf Club (DCGC) tallied 97 points for a total of 277 after third round to grab the fifth place.
Valeriano Pasquil made 28 points and Ludwig Ledesma had 26 to lead the charge for DCGC while Jerson Lebosada and Richard Badang added 22 and 21, respectively.
Sherwood Hills Golf Club took a 21-point lead from second-running Lumbia Golf and Country Club, registering 320 points while the latter garnered 299. Shun Arrizumi and Harry Paltongan had identical 31 points to lift Sherwood's 101 output for the day.
Lanang Golf Club trailed at fifth with 222 points in Friendship Division as Danny Nagayo scored 26 followed by Jonathan Cabreros with 19, Patrick Tan 18 and Bong Belen 14.
The PGA of British Columbia, meanwhile, amassed 265 points after three days of action. Jesus Castillo posted 30 points for the current leader.
KGC Boys Club Melbourne (233) came second followed by Camp Aguinaldo (231) in third and South Cotabato Golf (227) fourth.
