Juvic joins hunt as ICTSI Cangolf unfolds

Defending champion Juvic Pagunsan made a last-minute change of heart and decided to join the ICTSI Canlubang Golf Invitational, turning the battle for top honors wide open when the P1 million is held beginning Wednesday, Nov. 24 at Cangolf's north course.

Pagunsan, who dominated the field to rule last year's staging of the final leg of the 13-stage local circuit, was earlier scheduled to play in Thailand on the Asian Tour which starts tomorrow (Thursday) but opted to head back home from Hong Kong where he finished joint 38th in the HK Open last week.

His presence is expected to further raise the level of play in the 54-hole tournament with the smooth-swinging Bacolod pro out not only to defend his crown but also to wrap up the Order of Merit crown of the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour.

A two-leg winner this season, Pagunsan leads Jay Bayron in the money ranking with three-leg champion Marvin Dumandan all primed up to go for a fourth one after winning the last two legs at ICTSI-Royal Northwoods and ICTSI-Mimosa.

Pagunsan drew the 11:30 a.m. flight on No. 10 in a group that includes Rufino Bayron and amateur Richard Joson although the late tee-off is not expected to slow down his bid for the top P200,000 purse in the tournament organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

Pagunsan leads the race with P917,332 while Jay Bayron has winnings of P830,817 and Dumandan in third with P731,973.

Coming off with a playoff victory and a four-stroke romp in the last two legs, Dumandan sets out for the tournament in high spirits, confident of

pulling off a victory over a field toughened up by the return of three fancied players and Merit contenders.

Jay Bayron, winner at Aboitiz Invitational in Cebu and No. 2 in the current OOM ranking, is back, along with No. 4 Artemio Murakami and No. 6 Tony Lascuna, hoping to foil Dumandan's bid in the tournament sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc.

"The course is in great shape and I think the key here will be on the tee shot and putting," said Dumandan, who is actually shooting for his fourth victory after topping the ICTSI-Sherwood Hills Classic last March.

With the fairways a bit wet due to rain the last few days, Dumandan said driving would be crucial while likewise putting weight on putting which he said could make or break one's title bid.

Also tipped to contend for the last leg crown in the circuit are ICTSI-Orchard leg winner Benjie Magada, Del Monte champion Cassius Casas, Ferdie Aunzo, Anthony Fernando, Rufino Bayron, Antonio Asistio, Jun Bernis and the debuting Jhonnel Ababa, who calls the challenging par-72 layout his home.

Reigning Philippine Open champion and ICTSI-Malarayat leg winner Elmer Salvador is also expected to crowd the favorites with the soft-spoken Davaoeno hoping to check his slump in preparation for his RP Open title defense next month.

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

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

partners BusinessMirror, Inquirer Golf Monthly, A Round of

Golf, Pinoygolfer.com and Omnisource.(pr)

Powerhouse ICTSI joins 61st Baguio Fil-Am Golf

THE powerhouse ICTSI Team will make its much-awaited debut in the Fil-Am Golf Invitational, ensuring a top-caliber competition in the summer capital that is Baguio City.    



The seniors event is on Nov. 27-Dec. 2 and the men's regular is on Dec. 6-11.



ICTSI will be topbilled by national standouts Peter Villaber and Dante Becierra when  it competes in the championship flight of the Fil Division in the annual spectacle presented this time by Toyota.



Villaber and Becierra will be joined by Sonny Boy Giallom, Justin Limjap and Carl Santos Ocampo in the largest gathering of amateur golfers from around the globe sponsored by American Eye Center, Rudy Project, Wilson Sports, Gatorade, Carts Plaza and Supreme Bikes.



But ICTSi will find Manila Southwoods a tough foe in the tournament still considered by the Guinness Book of World records as the world's biggest golf event, participation-wise.



Southwoods boasts of realiables Jun Jun Plana and Jikjik Abdon, who will team up with Chucky Hong, Theody Pascual and Justin Dy in the tournament set both at the Baguio Country Club and Camp John Hay courses.



Mizuno is also returning and will be led by King Sthemeier and Juami Rocha, who are joined by John Baron Garcia, Rodel Mangulabnan and Richard Joson in the nation's longest running golf team championship.



The Batangas Barakos will be spearheaded by Mark Mendoza, Howie Sison, Dino Jimenez, Jeck Mendoza and Gerald Katigbak in the tournament supported by Dusit Thani Manila, New World Renaissance Hotel, Island Cove, Uniliver, Ritzgolf Sports Marketing and Willow Tree.



Hole in one prizes include a Toyota Vios for holes number 10 at  BCC and CJH.



A Yamaha Golf Cart is also a hole-in-one at holes 1 and 18 at the BCC and holes 4 and 15 at CJH. A ace-maker at holes 16 of BCC and 13 of CJH wins a Kymko motorcycle.



One gift certificate for Cataract Surgery with Multifocal Intraocular lens implantation will also be given at holes 7 and 11 of BCC and CJH, respectively.


Some 66 teams from around the globe are set to play in the two-week tournament now on its 61st straight year, a tribute to Filipino-American friendship began in 1949.(pr)