Davao's Ikeda finishes 3rd, Ababa ends up 13th

ICTSI’s Chihiro Ikeda carded a 75 and finished joint third with Thai Thidapa Suwannapura, who had a 77, at 297, 11 strokes behind local bet Hsuan Yu Yao in the Taiwan Amateur Golf Championship at the Sunrise Golf Club in Taoyuan County in Taiwan, Friday.

Hsuan coasted to a seven-shot romp over Mamiko Higa with a 286 after a 71 with the Japanese bet shooting a 74 and finishing with a 293.

Lovelynn Guioguio wound up joint sixth with a 302 after a 79 while Dottie Ardina hobbled with an 81 and slid to 10th with a 305. Ikeda's fellow Dabawenya Sarah Ababa ended up 13th with a 312 after an 83.

Jobim Carlos of ICTSI-Cangolf emerged the top Filipino finisher in the men’s side with a 294 after a 76 for 12th place, 20 strokes off Chien Yao Hung, who ran way with a six-shot win over compatriot Chi Hsien Hsieh with a 274 after a 72. Hsieh fired a 70 for a 280.

Peter Villaber wound up 20th with a 305 after a 78 while John Abdon finished next with a 74 for a 206.[pr]

Becierra wavers, ends up 6th

Dante Becierra came out cold from an hour-long rain delay and folded up at the backside for an awful 80, finishing sixth in the Singapore Open Amateur Championship ruled by local bet Edgar Oh at the Warren Golf and Country Club in Singapore, Friday.

Becierra moved within one off Oh after four holes when play was suspended due to heavy rain but the top ICTSI-backed bet struggled at resumption of play, hobbling with too many bogeys and a double bogey at the backside and blowing a chance to contend for the crown.

He wound up with a 42 for that 80 and a 299, extending the Philippines’ title drought in this annual event last topped by a Filipino – Michael Bibat – in 2004.

“I suddenly turned cold after a long break and I couldn’t get my rhythm back,” said Becierra in Filipino. “Sayang, I had a chance (to win it).”

He virtually blew that opportunity when he failed to get up-and-down at the par-4 14th, missing a six-foot par putt and on No. 16 when he missed the fairway and Oh hung tough with clutch pars on his way home, holding off Sri Lanka’s Mithun Perera for a two-shot victory on a closing three-over 74 for a 291.

Perera shot a 72 for a 293 while Jerome Ng, also of Singapore, took third place with a 298
after a 75.

Myanmar’s Nay Bala Win shot a 78 and tied for fourth at 298 with last year’s winner Rashid Khan of India, who had a 76.

Justin Limjap made a 79 for a 313 while Brent Sumampong had an 83 for a 323.[pr]

Davao's Ikeda moves to 4th in Taiwan, Ababa hardly improves

In Taiwan, Dabawenya Chihiro Ikeda matched par 72 to move up to fourth but stood seven strokes off Hsuan Yu Yao after three rounds in the Taiwan Amateur Golf Championship at the Sunrise Golf Club in Taoyuan County, Thursday.

Ikeda made a 35 at the front but bogeyed the par-5 18th for that 72 and a 222, way behind Hsuan, who fired a 70-215 for a four-shot lead over Japan’s Mamiko Higa, who had a 219 after a 71.

Thai Thidapa Suwannapura slid to third with a 76 for a 220. Lovelynn Guioguio, just two shots off the lead after two rounds, limped home with a 77 and slid to joint fifth at 224 while ICTSI teammates Dottie Ardina and Davao's Sarah Ababa hardly improved with 73-224 and 74-229, respectively.

In men’s play, Jobim Carlos of ICTSI-Cangolf, who shot a 70 in the first day, rebounded from a second round 76 with a 72-218 for joint 10th, 16 strokes off Chien Yao Hung, who pulled away with a 67 for a 202, eight strokes ahead of Chi Hsien Hsieh, who had a 210 afer a 68.

ICTSI bet Peter Villaber skied to an 81 for a 227 while John Abdon Kier had an 84 for a 232.(pr)

Becierra threatens within two with 70, Davao's Ababa shots 78

Dante Becierra turned in the day’s best score of one-under par 70 and moved within two strokes off Edgar Oh of Singapore in the third round of the Singapore Open Amateur Championship at the Warren Golf and Country Club in Singapore, Thursday.

Five behind the local bet at the start of the round, Becierra bucked an opening hole bogey with three straight birdies, including a pitch-in at the 220-yard par-3 No. 7, a tap-in on the par-5 No. 8 which he reached in two and a 26-footer on the ninth, which he double-bogeyed the previous round.

“My all-around game just clicked and I made a couple of lucky birdies,” said Becierra, who had a 219, in Filipino. “I could have done better but I missed a  couple of birdie putts inside six feet.”

Oh remained on top despite a second straight two-over 73 for a 217 as the field continued to struggle under tough playing condition at the tight par-71 layout with Ashbeer Singh Saini, two behind Oh at the halfway way, fumbling with a 76 and tumbling to joint fifth at 222 in a tie with Jerome Ng of Singapore and Rashin Khan of India, who both had 71s.

Nay Bala Win of Myanmar and Mithun Perera of Sri Lanka were tied at third with 220s after a 71 and a 73, respectively.

The 23-year-old top ICTSI-The Country Club bet is seeking his first international crown since sweeping Hong Kong’s premier amateur events – the HK Amateur Open and the Jockey Club Kau Sai Chau International Amateur Open – in 2007.

“I need to stay focused and try to keep it close and let’s see what happens,” said Becierra, trying to become the first Filipino to win here since Michael Bibat ruled the event in 2004.

Mhark Fernando made a 33 at the back and salvaged a 75 for 225 for eighth while ICTSI-Cangolf teammate Jessie Balasabas stood in jointh 18th with a 228 after a 75.

But while Becierra moved up from joint ninth to solo second, ICTSI teammates Justin Limjap (78-233) and Brent Sumampong (82-239) floundered heading into the final round of the 72-hole championship.

Davao's Jhonnel Ababa had a 235 after 78.(pr)

Guioguio moves within 2 strokes behind leader, Davao's Ikeda cards 73 and Ababa had 75

Over in Taiwan,  Lovelynn Guioguio moved within two strokes off new leader Thidapa Suwannapura as she fired a one-under 71 for a 146, two strokes adrift of the Thai bet in the second round of the Taiwan Amateur Golf Championship at the Sunrise Golf Club in Taoyuan County.

Suwannapura matched par 72 for the second straight time for a 144 as she grabbed a one-stroke lead over Taiwanese Hsuan Yu Yao, who had a 145 after a 72.

Top ICTSI bet Chihiro Ikeda carded a 73 for a 150 while Dottie Ardina rebounded from an earlier 79 with a 72 although she stood seven strokes off the pace with a 151. Sarah Ababa had a 155 after a 75 while Jayvie Agojo, who had a decent 75 in the first day, ballooned to an 84 for a 159.

In men’s play, Peter Villaber lay nine strokes behind Chien Yao Hung with a 72 and a 146 as the Taiwanese sustained his form and shot a 68 for a 135 and a five-shot lead over Japan’s Satoshi Kodiara, who had a 70 for a 140.

Sonny Villaber had a 74 or a 150 while Zanie Gialon made a 75 for a 152.(pr)

Becierra 5 shots off as Fernando falters, Davao's Ababa hardly moves up

Former Hong Kong Amateur Open champion Dante Becierra came out a bit better in a day of soaring scores, carding a four-over par 75 to trail new leader Edgar Oh by five strokes midway through the Singapore Open Amateur Championship at the Warren Golf and Country Club in Singapore, Wednesday.

With Mhark Fernando hobbling with an eight-over 79 and tumbling down from joint second to share of 11th, Becierra took the challenger’s role with a 149, vowing to make a charge in the final two rounds in pursuit of his first win after scoring back-to-back victories in Hong Kong in 2007.

“The course is too tough with its tight fairways and thick roughs. It’s risky to hit it with a driver but you’ll give up length with a 3-wood off the mound. So it’s a gamble and I’ll try to give it a shot in the last two days,” said Becierra, who also won three low amateur honors on the ICTSI-PGT circuit back home.

Oh flashed his familiarity with the demanding layout although the local bet faltered with four bogeys against two birdies for a two-over 73 that proved enough to shove him to the top with a 144.

That was two strokes up on Indian Ashbeer Singh Saini, who turned in the day’s best score of one-over 72 for a 146 while another local entry George Anthony Foo tied erstwhile leader Mithun Perera of Sri Lanka at 147 after a 75.

Perera, impressive with a one-under 70 in the first round, fumbled with a bogey-littered six-over 77. Hamza Amin of Pakistan also wavered with a 76 to join Foo and Perera in third.

Becierra, the top ICTSI-backed bet searching for his first international win since scoring back-to-back in Hong Kong in 2007, actually turned in a solid start of one-under 35. But he double-bogeyed No. 11, dropped two more strokes on No. 14 then bogeyed the difficult 18th for a 40 and a 75.

Worse was Fernando, the ICTSI-Cangolf standout who had a decent one-over 36 at the back where he teed off. But the former national champion back home found the going tough at the front, bogeying the first three holes, dropping two strokes on No. 4 before holing out with another double-bogey mishap for an awful 43.

Jessie Balasabas slid from 21st to joint 26th at 153 after a six-over 77 in a round marred by a triple-bogey 8 on No. 15, a double bogey on No. 2 and five bogeys against four birdies.

Justin Limjap, one of the new members of the ICTSI-The Country Club team, limped with an 80 for joint 32nd at 155 while Davao's Jhonnel Ababa hardly moved up with a 77 and a 157 in a tie with Brent Sumampong, who also made an 80.(pr)

Unson captures first AJGA crown

Andie Unson continued to reap honors abroad, ruling the AccuSport Championship with a closing four-over par 74 for a one-stroke victory over Chantakan Chanpalangsri of Florida at the Tanglewood Park’s Championship Course in Clemmons, North Carolina Thursday.

Unson, 15, groped for form as she came out of a two-hour rain delay but bucked Chanpalangsri’s final round charge to annex her first championship in the American Junior Golf Association, which provides competitive junior golf tournaments foryoung men and women who aspire to earn college golf scholarships.

The top ICTSI bet also clinched the low medal honors in the one-day qualifier for the 54-hole tournament, reduced to 53 holes as one hole was rendered unplayable due to heavy downpour in the final round.

“The weather affected me a little since it was shotgun start but I had to refocus,” said Unson, who ruled the San Diego Junior Masters and the Optimist International Junior title in Florida last month.

“She’s been hitting the ball pretty well and with her work habit and determination, Andie’s bound to win more tournaments,” said ICTSI team coach Bong Lopez.

Unson opened up with a 67, spiked by eight birdies, to build a six-stroke lead then stayed four shots ahead of Alexandra Rossi of Texas and seven ahead of Chanpalangsridespite a 74 in the second round.

She wound up with a nine-over 215, nipping Chanpalangsri, who rallied with a 68 but fell short of her bid at 216. Rossi placed third with a 217 after a 72.

"I'd like to thank God because everything that happened today was because of Him. And I'm just so grateful because this is my first AJGA win. I have been striving to win before but it's only now that I could do it under coach Bong's training," said Unson.(pr)

Fernando heads RP bid in Singapore Open Am, Davao's Ababa also in the fold

Former national champion Mhark Fernando will be among the marked men when the Singapore Amateur Open Championship is fired off beginning Tuesday at the Warren Golf and Country Club course in Singapore.

Fernando has been tipped as among the favorites in the four-day championship by the local media along with Malaysian Jeremiah Kim, who recently won the Singapore junior crown, Nay Bala Win Mying of Myanmar, Hamza Amin of Pakistan and Mithu Perera of Sri Lanka and local bets Jerome Ng and Koh Dengshan.

The veteran Filipino campaigner drew a 7:55 a.m. tee-off on No. 1 in the company of Winston Wu of Hong Kong, Amin and Perera.

Dante Becierra, on the other hand, hopes to come up with a strong start as he seeks to end a three-year title drought after scoring back-to-back victories in the Hong Kong Amateur Open and the HK Jockey Club Championship in 2004.


Becierra will start at the backside of the rolling par-72 layout in the 8:16 a.m. flight that includes Safdar Khan of Pakistan, Ong Chew Meng of Singapore and ICTSI teammate Brent Sumampong.

Davao's Jhonnel Ababa is also in the fold along with Jessie Balasabas, the low amateur in the recent Aboitiz Invitational of the ICTSI-PGT circuit, Miguel Tabuena and Justin Limjap with the Filipinos campaign sponsored by ICTSI and sanctioned by the National Golf Association of the Phils.(pr)

Davao's Bayron clips Dutch rival, cops Aboitiz crown

Stephen Paradies, chief finance officer and senior vice president of Aboitiz Equity Ventures, awards the trophy to Davao's Jay Bayron.[CONTRIBUTED PHOTO]

CEBU – Davao's Jay Bayron finally ended a string of runner-up finishes this year, outgunning Dutch Guido Van der Valk in the early going then holding off a charging Juvic Pagunsan at the back to annex the first Aboitiz Cebu Country Club Invitational crown with a closing two-under 70 for a two-stroke victory at the CCC layout here, Friday.

The 31-year-old Bayron, tied with Van der Valk at the start of the final round, bucked a double-bogey mishap on No. 3 with birdies on Nos. 7 and 9 to seize control then played it steady at the back to complete a pair of 35s over a course that proved tougher that what the field had thought it to be.

“Finally, I won again. It’s been a long search for another victory,” said Bayron, who had three runner-up finishes on the Mercedes Benz Tour this season and finished second to fellow Dabawenyo Marvin Dumandan at the ICTSI-Sherwood Classic early this year, in Filipino.

Counting his earlier 66 and 69, Bayron completed his wire-to-wire triumph with a 205 aggregate worth P200,000, scoring his second victory on the revival of the pro circuit after topping the ICTSI Valley leg last year.

Pagunsan, one of the early favorites to win this 10th leg of the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour sponsored by Aboitiz Equity Ventures, ran out of holes in his bid for a third leg victory after topping the ICTSI-Riviera and ICTSI-Apo stages. He shot one of the day’s only two 69s and snatched second place at 207. He took home P120,000 in a big rebound after he, along with Elmer Salvador and Richard Sinfuego, were disqualified on a final hole infraction at the ICTSI-Del Monte leg ruled by absentee Cassius Casas last month.

Van der Valk, bidding to become the first foreign player to win on the local circuit, took the lead with a par on No. 3. But like in his final round loss to Salvador in last year’s Philippine Open and to Artemio Murakami in the Asian Tour Qualifying in Thailand, the Dutchman cracked under pressure and tumbled down to eighth place.

He stumbled with a 37 at the front, double-bogeyed the 14th and bogeyed the last two holes for a 77, finishing with a 212.

Dumandan made a strong finish after withdrawing at Apo and skipping the Del Monte leg of the circuit presented by ICTSI and organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, grabbing third place with a 208 after a 70.

Jun Bernis, the former national champion, also turned in his best finish so far, a fourth place effort at 209 after a 71 while Angelo Que, fresh from his triumph at Selangor Masters in Malaysia, settled for joint fifth with Frankie Minoza and Murakami. Que and Minoza shot identical 70s while Murakami made a 71 for 210s.

Rufino Bayron fired the other 69 while fellow former national teammate Ferdie Aunzo carded a 73 as they tied for ninth at 213 while Tony Lascuna and Rey Pagunsan shared 11th place at 214 after a 72 and 73, respectively.

Jerson Balasabas emerged the low amateur for the third time in the season, firing a 70 for a share of 13th with Salvador (71), Ebarra Quiachon (71), Gene Bondoc (71) and Albin Engino (74).

The event was backed by MJ Carr Golf Management, Jaguar, Land Rover, Studio 23, 

Balls TV, Srixon/Cleveland Golf, Callaway Golf, Odyssey and Golf Punk and media 

partners Business Mirror, Inquirer Golf Monthly, A Round of 

Golf, Pinoygolfer.com and Omnisource.[pr]

RP bets stay in hunt in US Women’s Am, Davao's Ababa cards 73

Mia Piccio matched par 72 while four other Filipina bets stood well within target in the US Women’s Amateur Championship which got under way with the first of the 36-hole stroke play elims at the Charlotte Country Club in Charlotte, North Carolina Monday.

Piccio, coming off a victory in the Trans Am tournament last week in Nebraska, bucked the long, uphill 37-35 layout with steady driving, finishing with a one-birdie, one-bogey for nines of 36-36 and a share of 16th place with 11 others.

Her three other ICTSI-backed teammates turned in decent rounds with Dabawenya Sarah Ababa carding a 73 for joint 29th and Lovelynn Guioguio sharing 39th place with a 74.

Andie Unson, with two victories in the US Juniors in San Diego and in Optimist International in Florida last month, struggled a bit with three bogeys in a birdie-less round as she hobbled in joint 56th heading into the last day of the
qualifier.

The 64 players from the starting field of 155 will advance to the match play phase starting Wednesday.


Beverly Mendoza, the other RP bet, also shot a 73.

“The key to playing well in this course is to drive the ball well and avoid the fairway rough. The greens are very tricky and it’s important to place the ball in the proper part of the surface,” said ICTSI team coach Bong Lopez.

Piccio made a four-foot birdie putt on No. 2 but three-putted from 20 feet on the 18th, Ababa hit birdies on Nos. 14 and 17 inside five feet but had missed-green bogeys on Nos. 4, 10 and 15, Guioguio birdied the par-5 sixth but
dropped shots on Nos. 10, 11 and 13.

“With severe undulations of the greens, it’s very hard to make birdies even if they hit it close to the pin. Very seldom will they get a flat putt,” said Lopez.

But Rachel Rohanna of Pennsylvania made it look easy with a course-setting 65 from nine birdies against two bogeys as she zeroed in on the low medal honors.

She leads Brooke Pancake, carding a 68, by three and four shots clear of Doris Chen, winner of the US Girls Juniors tournament last week who had a 69.(pr)

ABOITIZ INVITATIONAL: Angelo begins quest for local glory

Angelo Que hopes to ride the momentum of his playoff victory in Malaysia last week and nail the elusive win on the local circuit as he sets out in the Aboitiz Cebu Country Club Invitational firing off Wednesday, Aug. 11 at the CCC layout in Cebu City.

The best player never to have won a local tour leg this year, Que is oozing with confidence heading into the P1 million event after snapping a two-year title  drought on the Asian Tour with a playoff victory over Englishman Chris Rodgers in the Selangor Masters.

Unlike in his previous wins, however, Que said he won’t fall into the same trap again.

“One mistake that I had after winning was that I was full of confidence but I kept missing cuts right away,” said Que referring to his first two Asian Tour titles in 2004 (Vietnam Masters) and 2008 (Philippine Open).

“I think my expectations went up but winning doesn’t mean you’re going to be hitting perfect shots all the time. This time, I’m going to play it like I haven’t won anything. I won’t expect so many good shots and will just play it as it is,” he said.

What he must anticipate is the early charge of the tour’s other big guns, headed by fellow Asian Tour campaigners Juvic Pagunsan, Tony Lascuna, Mars Pucay, Artemio Murakami and leg winners Elmer Salvador, Marvin Dumandan and Benjie Magada  – all raring to foil Que’s title bid.

Add Frankie Minoza into the mix and Que truly has a deep roster of challengers to contend with for the top P200,000 purse in the 54-hole championship sponsored by Aboitiz Equity Ventures.

Minoza, for one, is out to annex a victory in a rare appearance on the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour, hoping to turn in an under-par total over a tough, tight course which requires accuracy.

“An over-par total won’t win here despite the course being tricky,” said Minoza, on a break from his European Seniors Tour and Japan PGA Tour campaigns.


Que actually started the year with a runaway victory in The Country Club Invitational but has struggled on the ICTSI-PGT circuit, forcing to take a 10-day break last month for a fitness and diet regimen.

“I took a one and a half week break in Koh Samui (in Thailand last month) and went with my wife to a yoga retreat center. I went on a no meat diet and I started from scratch and it helped me a lot to get my mind off things,” said
Que, who jumped from 21st to No. 9 in the Asian Tour Order of Merit rankings.

Also in the 79-player roster are Ferdie Aunzo, Jay Bayron, Antonio Asistio II, Rufino Bayron, Richard Sinfuego, Jun Bernis, Elmer Saban, Michael Bibat, Gene Bondoc, Anthony Fernando, Jerome Delariarte, Omar Dungca, Cookie La’O, Rey Pagunsan, Carito Villaroman, Danny Zarate and former RP Open champion Robert
Pactolerin.

Keen competition is also seen in the amateur side of the tournament, presented by International Container Terminal Services, Inc., as the cream of crop vies for low medal honors. They include reigning champion Clyde Mondilla, Mhark Fernando, Jhonnel Ababa, Jerson Balasabas, Peter Villaber and Dante Becierra.

The Aboitiz tournament serves as the 10th leg of the 14-stage ICTSI-PGT circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. and backed by MJ Carr Golf Management, Jaguar, Land Rover, Studio 23, Balls TV, Srixon/Cleveland Golf, Callaway Golf, Odyssey and Golf Punk and media partners Business Mirror,
Inquirer Golf Monthly, A Round of Golf, Pinoygolfer.com and Omnisource.(pr)

Top amateurs vie in Aboitiz Cebu tilt

A bumper crop of amateurs sees action in the Aboitiz Cebu Country Club Invitational, ready to do battle against the country’s leading pros in the P1 million event which reels off Wednesday at the Cebu Country Club in Cebu City.

Reigning national champion Clyde Mondilla, former titlist Mhark Fernando and former national team mainstays Jhonnel Ababa, Jerson Balasabas, Dante Becierra and Peter Villaber of the ICTSI golf stables make the core of what appears to be the most talented amateur roster to compete on the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour.

They are actually the leading players set to clash for berths in the national squad vying for at least three big events abroad this year, making the 54-hole tournament a tune-up of sort for the RP team aspirants.

Also in the fold are Sonny Villaber, Zanie Boy Gialon, Justin Limjap, Erwin Madrileño, Art Arbole, John Kier Abdon, Gio Gandioco, LJ Go, Carl Almario, Eric Deen, Montito Garcia, Jovi Neri, Bayani Garcia, Marko Sarmiento, Gen Nagai and Chepe Dulay.

Some of them are also teeing off on Tuesday's pro-am tournament, which actually kicks off the 10^th leg of the ICTSI-PGT circuit sponsored by Aboitiz Equity Ventures and presented by International Container Terminal Services, Inc.

Fernando was the last amateur to have won a pro tournament, dominating the field to rule the ICTSI-Riviera Invitational under tough condition last year.

Slowed down by a shoulder injury, Fernando missed a couple of tournaments this year and struggled in the last leg at ICTSI-Del Monte although he remains the player to beat among the group in the upcoming tournament.

Unlike in his Riviera feat, however, Fernando and his fellow amateurs see a tougher outing this time with majority of the big guns coming into the event in top form following a series of local and international tournaments.

They include leg winners Juvic Pagunsan, Artemio Murakami, Mars Pucay, Elmer Salvador, Marvin Dumandan and Benjie Magada along with Ferdie Aunzo, Jay Bayron, Antonio Asistio II, Rufino Bayron, Richard Sinfuego, Jun Bernis, Elmer Saban, Michael Bibat, Gene Bondoc, Anthony Fernando, Jerome Delariarte, Omar Dungca, Cookie La’O, Rey Pagunsan, Carito Villaroman, Danny Zarate and former RP Open champion Robert Pactolerin.

But focus will be on Angelo Que, fresh from his Selangor Masters victory, and Frankie Minoza, who is making a rare appearance on the local circuit backed by MJ Carr Golf Management, Jaguar, Land Rover, Studio 23, Balls TV, Srixon/Cleveland Golf, Callaway Golf, Odyssey and Golf Punk and media partners Business Mirror, Inquirer Golf Monthly, A Round of Golf, Pinoygolfer.com and Omnisource.(pr)

Minoza joins title hunt in Aboitiz Cebu tilt

Frankie Minoza takes a break from his hectic European seniors tour and Japan PGA Tour campaigns as he joins the chase for top P200,000 purse in the Aboitiz Cebu Country Club Invitational unfolding Aug. 11 at the Cebu Country Club in Cebu City.

This marks the first time that Minoza will be slugging it out with the cream of the country’s crop since finishing joint sixth in The Country Club Invitational in January with the former two-time Philippine Open champion hoping to contend for top honors this time.

Although he now has a busy schedule on the seniors tour abroad, the 50-year-old Minoza has always made himself available to play on the local tour whenever he’s free, providing inspiration to the local pros, particularly the younger ones.

Minoza’s presence is also expected to add prestige to the P1 million event, which already teems with talent in Asian Tour regulars Juvic Pagunsan, Angelo Que, Tony Lascuna, Artemio Murakami and Mars Pucay.

Also in the fold are leg winners on the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour, headed by reigning RP Open winner Elmer Salvador, Marvin Dumandan and Benjie Magada and young turks Ferdie Aunzo, Jay Bayron, Antonio Asistio II and Rufino Bayron.

The tournament serves as the 10th leg of the 14-stage ICTSI-PGT circuit with Aboitiz Equity Ventures coming in as chief sponsor of the 54-hole championship organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

With Minoza and a slew of talents in the 80-player roster, a wide open battle is seen right in the first round of the tournament backed by MJ Carr Golf Management, Jaguar, Land Rover, Studio 23, Balls TV, Srixon/Cleveland Golf,
Callaway Golf, Odyssey and Golf Punk and media partners Business Mirror, Inquirer Golf Monthly, A Round of
Golf, Pinoygolfer.com and Omnisource.

Others in the fold are Richard Sinfuego, Jun Bernis, Elmer Saban, Michael Bibat, Gene Bondoc, Anthony Fernando, Jerome Delariarte, Omar Dungca, Cookie La’O, Rey Pagunsan, Carito Villaroman, Danny Zarate and former RP Open champion Robert Pactolerin.

The event will be ushered in by the traditional pro-am tournament on Aug. 10 featuring officials and guests of the sponsoring Abotiz Equity Ventures and presentor International Container Terminal Services, Inc.

The one-day pro-am will also serve as tune-up for the leading pros as they try to familiarize themselves with the tight, challenging par-72 layout, back as host of the pro circuit after a long absence.(pr)

Davao’s Salvador seeks redemption in Aboitiz tilt

Dabawenyo Elmer Salvador vows to come out wary and wiser as he leads the chase for the top P200,000 purse in the Aboitiz Cebu Country Club Invitational which gets underway Aug. 11 at the Cebu Country Club in Cebu City.

Salvador blew what had been a won tournament in Bukidnon last month when he was disqualified, along with two others, on a final-hole infraction, enabling fellow Dabawenyo Cassius Casas to snatch the win in the ICTSI-Del Monte leg.

“Natuto na ako at babawi na lang ako sa susunod (I learned my lesson here and I will strike back),” said the soft-spoken Salvador.

He was a tap-in for birdie away from pocketing the top P200,000 at Del Monte when he agreed not to lift his ball and let Juvic Pagunsan and Richard Sinfuego pitch first from around the 18th green, an infraction that merited disqualification.

“That will never happen again,” said Salvador.

That should make the 41-year-old reigning RP Open champion the marked man in the P1 million event, sponsored for the first time by Aboitiz Equity Ventures which has linked up with the organizing Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. (PGTI) to stage this 10th leg of the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour.

Pagunsan and Sinfuego are also in the 79-player roster, both also out to redeem themselves with the former, the only double-leg winner on the circuit, playing in top form after falling short by just one stroke in the recent Brunei
Open.

Joining the title hunt are the country’s leading pros, including former RP Open winner Angelo Que and leg winners Artemio Murakami, Mars Pucay, Marvin Dumandan and Benjie Magada.

Meanwhile, the Cebu Country Club has been spruced up to championship condition in time for the three-day event presented by International Container Terminal Services, Inc. and backed by MJ Carr Golf Management,Jaguar, Land
Rover,Studio 23, Balls TV, Srixon/Cleveland Golf, Callaway Golf, Odyssey and GolfPunk and media partners Business Mirror, Inquirer Golf Monthly, A Round ofGolf, Pinoygolfer.com and Omnisource.

Also vying in the tournament are Jay Bayron, Ferdie Aunzo, Anthony Fernando, Elmer Saban, Jun Bernis, Antonio Asistio II and Rufino Bayron.(pr)

Aboitiz sponsors PGT leg in Cebu

The Aboitiz Invitational at the Cebu Country Club firing off next week will mark a couple of firsts on the Philippine Golf Tour (PGT) – the entry of a new title sponsor and a new venue for the touring pros.

“We are glad to have one of the country’s top conglomerates, the Aboitiz Equity Ventures, as one of our major partners for the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour,” said Colo Ventosa, general manager of the organizing Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. (PGTI).


“Aboitiz is coming in as title sponsor and has committed to infuse P2.5 million into PGT as title sponsor. Without them, the Cebu leg would have not been possible. We look forward to a long term partnership with the Aboitiz Group,” she said.

While the Cebu Country Club has hosted some legs of pro tours in the past, it hasn’t staged a tournament for the three-year-old PGT circuit, thus giving the country’s top pros a different kind of challenge when they resume their quest for fame and fortune starting Aug. 11.

The 54-hole Aboitiz Invitational serves as the 10th leg of the PGT circuit with four more legs slated till the end of the year.

The PGT was launched in Sept. 2008 with three events at the Valley Golf in Antipolo City, Sherwood Hills in Cavite, and Apo Golf in Davao. In 2009, PGTI took over the management of the PGT to further improve the  organization of the pro tour. A total of seven events were held during the year, including two Mercedes Benz Tour legs.

Founded by Enrique Razon Jr., the PGTI was put up to advance the cause of pro golf in the country. It has been the chief backer of top Filipino golfers, including the amateurs, through exposures in local, regional and international golf tournaments.

Through its flagship tournament circuit, the Philippine Golf Tour (PGT), PGTI organizes tournaments held in the country’s top golf courses wherein golfers could hone their skills, compete with fellow professionals, and earn from the sport.  In just over a year, the PGT has become the one of the largest golf circuits in Southeast Asia.(pr)