Top guns fancied as ICTSI-N’woods golf begins

Focus will be on the Asian Tour regulars as the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour
resumes with the ICTSI Royal Northwoods Championship beginning Wednesday,
Oct. 6, at the Royal Northwoods Golf and Country Club in San Rafael, Bulacan.
Order of Merit leader Juvic Pagunsan, Aboitiz leg winner Jay Bayron of Davao and fellow Dabawenyo
defending champion Ferdie Aunzo head the chase for the top P200,000 purse in the
54-hole tournament serving as the 11th leg of the 13-stage circuit organized by
Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.
The troika has kept themselves busy by competing on the regional tour during the
month-long break on the local circuit, giving them the advantage in terms of
form and confidence over those whose last tournament was the Aboitiz
Invitational in Cebu last August.
Aunzo tamed the par-72 Graham Marsh-designed layout last year with a run of
under-par scores although he had to weather a backnine rally by Rey Pagunsan in
the final round to snatch a one-stroke victory in the event sponsored by
International Container Terminal Services, Inc.
But the former national champion has turned in a pair so-so finishes at Del
Monte and Aboitiz after finishing second at Davao last July although he is
expected to toughen up in the next three days in a bid to score back-to-back
victories.
Bayron, on the other hand, tries to become the first player this year to win two
legs in row while Pagunsan guns for his third title after winning the Riviera
and Apo legs in runaway fashions.
Others tipped to contend for the crown are reigning RP Open champion Elmer
Salvador, veteran campaigners Tony Lascuna, Danny Zarate and Robert Pactolerin,
Orchard leg winner Benjie Magada, Richard Sinfuego and Antonio Asistio II and
Rufino Bayron.
An all-weather layout, the Northwoods course has been spruced up in time for the
P1 million tournament, its rolling fairways and unpredictable putting surface
expected to test the field’s talent and skills.
Meanwhile, reigning national champion Clyde Mondilla and Jobim Carlos, fresh
from leading RP to the championship in the Lion City Cup last Friday, head the
roster of amateur seeing action in the event. The others are Dante Becierra,
Peter Villaber, Joey Huerva, Art Arbole, Paul Echavez and Fil-Am Carl
Santos-Ocampo.

Rey Pagunsan, meanwhile, primed up for the main event as he led his team, which
included amateur partners Anton Cabangon, Bert Hidalgo and Hadji Perez, to
victory in yesterday‘s traditional pro-am 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.
They shot a 53 to beat Robert Pactolerin and teammates Arnel Arteche, Boy Ungson
and Belem Arancon by one. Jun Bernis and partners Ferdie Caluza, Bons Garcia and
Sim Buyco placed third with 54.

The tournament is 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)