TOP Philippine Airlines executives, led by president Jaime Bautista, vice president Felix Cruz and senior assistant vice president Domingo Duerme, engage in the time-honored tradition of hitting the ceremonial tee to kick off the Seniors competition of the 64th Philippine Airlines Interclub championships at the Del Monte Golf Club in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon, on Wednesday.
The Tarlac-based squad has won the event 14 times since Club Filipino de Cebu captured the inaugurals in 1987.
No team outside Luisita and Canlubang has won the event since Wack Wack prevailed in 1999.
This year would be no different despite a record field of 89 teams, half of which are based overseas.
Tommy Manotoc will lead the Canlubang challenge. Backstopping the 61-year-old multititled golfer are Dave Hernandez, Luigi Yulo and Jose Mari Hechanova.
Clavecilla has tagged Canlubang the prohibitive favorite, an assessment brushed aside by Yulo.
“We have the same lineup as last year. We just have to finish strong,” Yulo said.
The four-day event will be played at the modern Pueblo de Oro Golf and Country Club and at the scenic Del Monte golf course in nearby Bukidnon.
Each team can field four players every round, but only the top three scorers are counted.
The Molave scoring system will be applied. A double bogey is worth 1 point, bogey 2 points, par 3 points, birdie 4 points and eagle 5 points.
A score of 72 in stroke play is equivalent to 54 points.
After a two-day break, the 64th regular men’s tournament gets under way on February 23 with Canlubang defending its championship against a horde of challengers.
The adoption of a handicapping system has made the tournament a wide-open race.
This year’s competition is backed by platinum sponsors Boeing, Airbus, Radio Mindanao Network, the BusinessMirror and Interactive Broadcast Media (dwwW). Major sponsors are People Asia, 105.1 Crossover, GE Aviation and Traversing the Orient.
Also lending support are corporate sponsors Manila Bulletin and Bombo Radyo Philippines, while minor sponsors are Lufthansa Technik Philippines, MasterCard and Century Park Hotel. Prize donors include Panasonic Avionics and Tanduay.
More detailed information on the tournament is available on the dedicated PAL Interclub webpage www.palinterclub.com.
