Away from home, Del Monte claims crown
BACOLOD CITY—Del Monte Golf Club successfully defended its title in the Philippine Airlines Senior Interclub tournament, delivering a commanding performance at the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club on Thursday.
Veterans Yoyong Velez and Raul Miñoza spearheaded the victory, each carding 53 points to solidify Del Monte’s dominance. The defending champions turned what was expected to be a tight contest into a runaway win.
“We thought we had the strongest team in the final round,” said Velez, the team captain. “Our strategy paid off.”
For the first time, Del Monte claimed the title away from its home course, silencing doubts about its ability to win on another course.
“Nobody can say now that we can’t win outside Del Monte,” Velez added, crediting his team’s monthlong daily practice for their success.
With Crispin Aparilla contributing 47 points, Del Monte finished with a tournament-best 153 points, securing a nine-point victory over runners-up Luisita and Manila Southwoods.
The final round saw Del Monte take an early three-point lead over Luisita. Miñoza was 1-under and Velez even par at the turn. However, both encountered late challenges—Miñoza’s approach shot on 17 landed in a flower bed, leading to a double bogey, while Velez mishit his second shot on 18, settling for a double bogey after a penalty drop.
