Rupert Zaragoza, at 12 years old, the youngest to compete in the men’s tournament of the PAL Interclub, is among the young players being trained by Canlubang’s stable of top coaches led by Tommy Manotoc. (Photo by BOB DUNGO JR.)

BACOLOD CITY — Canlubang has won eight of the last 10 stagings of the Philippine Airlines Interclub golf championships, raising concerns that the country’s premier event has come down to few teams that can afford to assemble and train full-time golfers.

Canlubang has been maintaining a stable of top players from which it draws its members for the Interclub.

Many of the country’s top professionals are products of Canlubang’s strong golf program – one overriding reason why Interclub organizers do not want to impose restrictions to level the playing field.

“We have to admit that without Canlubang or The Country Club, where will we get players to represent the country in international competitions” said tournament director Buddy Resurreccion. “Again, we will go back to the shortcomings of the National Golf Association of the Philippines (NGAP).”

Resurreccion said there have been suggestions to put a cap that would limit the number of good players a team can get for the Interclub.

“But by doing so, we are punishing teams that have been helping Philippine golf,” he said.

Resurreccion said the cost of maintaining and sending a top-caliber squad has gone up, virtually reducing the fight to two squads in the last decade.

“Actual participation alone costs a minimum of P250,000. What about the allowances and training expenses of players who train the whole year?” Resurreccion asked.

Resurreccion has had firsthand experience in forming a championship team, having produced three straight crowns for Aguinaldo starting in 1988.

After Aguinaldo won its last crown in 1990, Luisita and Canlubang took turns winning the next eight Interclub events.

The string was only broken in 1999 when Manila Southwoods ran away with the title in the absence of Canlubang and Luisita.

The departure of Luisita in the regular event has enabled Canlubang to stamp its class, its streak of victories beginning 2000 broken only twice by Del Monte in 2004 and Manila Southwoods in 2005.

Until the entry of TCC last year, Manila Southwoods was Canlubang’s new rival.

How long Canlubang can maintain its stable of champions is everyone’s guess.

The 36-hole course has been struggling financially as a result of the worldwide economic slowdown.

In fact, the Sugar Barons nearly skipped last year’s event.

With the International Container and Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) coming into the picture, Canlubang’s stint this year was assured.

The ICTS has agreed to fund Canlubang’s pool of players, the same support it has been giving to TCC members.

The financial backing ensures that Canlubang and TCC would remain the Interclub’s biggest draws in the years to come, this despite the fact that no other team comes close to threaten their rivalry.

Orchard Golf Club, the Founders Division leader, is 25 points behind TCC halfway through the event.

Orchard leads Eagle Ridge by five points with Alabang Golf and Wack Wack just 14 points off the pace.

“For me, the real Interclub battle is in the Founder’s division,” Resurreccion said.

The event is presented by platinum sponsors Airbus, Boeing, 105.1 Crossover, and Radio Mindanao Network.

Major sponsors are Action Asia, GE Aviation, MTV Philippines, People Asia, and Royal Caribbean.

The corporate backers are Business Mirror, Philippine Graphic, www.philstar.com, Sabre Airline Solutions/Sabre Travel Network and Resort World Manila. Century Park Hotel, DWWW 774 AM, Panay News, Master Card, and Thales Aerospace are minor patrons.