By Adriano Flores

DAVAO City—The Country Club lost ground on the all-important penultimate round and will have a lot of catching up to do in the final day if it hopes to conclude its debut on a high note in the regular men’s championship of the 62nd Philippine Airlines Interclub Friday at the Rancho Palos Verdes.

Antonio Asistio, a Putra Cup member last year, came up big with a leading three-under-par card worth 39 markers in the PAL point system, but his other teammates Joey Hueva, Dante Beciera and Anthony Fernando combined for 98 that gave the newcomer a 137 and 400 total after 54 grueling holes.

Asistio was already well on his way for a flawless round with birdies on nos. 10, 14 and 16, until he dropped a shot on the 17th hole. He scored on another birdie on the first hole (he started on the back nine) for that 39, taking a 3-point win in a head-to-head duel with Cangolf’s Alvin Engino.

Fernando, the top scorer for TCC on the first day with 40, limped home with a 32 this time. He had two pickups, on no. 1, where he went out-of-bounds and on no. 16, where he got stymied twice, which spelled doom after leveling with Jessie Balasabas for a good part of their matchup.

Defending champion Canlubang, which is seeking its fourth straight crown and 16th overall, made its most productive output of 145 for 410 points to lead by 10 with only 18 holes remaining. Pint-sized Joseph Labajo accounted for 39, Balasabas 38, Engino 36 and Mario Labajo 32.

TCC captain Freddie Mendoza sees the battle is still a tossup.

“I expect it to go down the wire, down to the last man and to the last putt. There’s a 50-50 chance of us getting the crown on our first try,” Mendoza said.

Mendoza also said that with the competition shifting back to the treacherous par-72 layout of the Apo Golf Club today, his wards will have to take their chances and be aggressive all the way—a sensible charge that he hopes would show the way for them to the right path.

“I won’t say that we will go for broke but, definitely, we’ll be taking some risks because there’s no more tomorrow. We cannot just play safe. We have to take away their lead right away and hope for the best the rest of the way,” he said.

Looking at the TCC lineup, the combination of Ferdinand Aunzo and Rufino Bayron looks formidable to engage Cangolf veteran Tommy Manotoc and Dave Hernandez in a battle royale. It will be up to the supporting cast to do the damage.

Local boy Peter Villaber, JR Tanpinco and Art Arbole will suit up for TCC, while Jonel Ababa, Mark Fernando and Zanie Boy Gialon complete the Cangolf roster.