Southwoods, Rancho Palos rule PAL Ladies golf

DAVAO -- Manila Southwoods-Masters easily brushed aside the brave challenge put up by Del Monte to romp away with the championship division title in the final round of the revived sixth Philippine Airlines (PAL) Ladies Interclub held at the Rancho Palos Verdes Golf and Country Club Friday.

Regine de Guzman made sure there won't be any slip-up, firing four birdies including back-to-back hits on Nos. 10 and 11 for a two-under-par 70, worth 56 PAL points for Southwoods-Masters which wound up with a 624. The Sunshine Baraquiel and bubbly Beachie Abiera provided good support with 51 and 49, respectively.

De Guzman also collared the individual crown in Flight A, narrowly edging out Anya Tanpinco, 113-112.

"Everyone's excited with the win. We're proud to be the champs in the PAL Ladies Interclub after a 23-year absence," said Beachie Abiera, captain of Southwoods-Masters.

Although the outcome has been known after the third round, Del Monte still tried to put on a pretty end to its campaign. Eva Minoza had an impressive 55 to lead way for the Bukidnon-based squad. Pam Mariano's 47 and Apple Fudolin's 45 were added in the four-to-play, three-to-count for 147 and a 570 total.

Rainstar Roque, Del Monte's 12-year-old teen wonder, captured the Flight B tiara with 89 points.

Alabang, the last winner of the championship division in the 1988 edition of the tournament, was victorious also, though this time, in the Founders Division.

Though it trailed Negros in 36 holes, the Alabang girls surged ahead in the third round with a 121 then capped it off in the final 18 with a 128 on Anna Mendoza's 47, Rita Horan's 46 and Joan Morales' 37 for 491.

Negros, which got 132-136 mainly because of Tanpinco's excellent games, stumbled with 96 and 105 for 469. As a consolation, Tanpinco was runner-up in the individual honors in Flight A behind de Guzman.

Riviera (99-425), Valley Golf-South (105-414), Cebu Country Club (103-391) and Mactan (93-371) completed the cast in the Founders.

Southwoods made it a double celebration as its Legends team stamped its class in the Sportswriters Division. Claudine Garcia and Nini Samaniego each carded a 44 while Heidi Schettkat added a 31 for 119 and 425.

Eagle Ridge was a far second with 395 after it assembled 100 on the 38 of Linda Goble, 34 of Jessie Cho and 28 of Edith Williams. Bacolod was third with 387 and Manila Golf fourth with 372. The Kooka-Birdies from Australia ended with a 173.

The Friendship Division was also a no-contest as host Rancho Palos Verdes (102-403) handily defeated fellow local Apo (92-355). At third place was Davao (83-333) followed by Victorias (101-325), Iloilo (73-308), Tagaytay Highlands (81-295), Japan (79-264), Malarayat (76-259) and Valley Golf North (77-230) competed in the same bracket.(pr)

PAL Ladies Interclub: Southwoods surges closer to Interclub champs title

DAVAO—Regine de Guzman took off from where Jayvie Agojo left, scoring a three-
under-par 69 for 57 PAL points to put Manila Southwoods-Masters on the verge of
nailing the championship division title of the sixth Philippine Airlines (PAL) Ladies
Interclub tournament at the Rancho Palos Verdes Golf and Country Club.

De Guzman carded a birdie on the 12th but slowed down with a bogey on the 18th.
In the front nine, she rolled in three birdies, including back-to-back on Nos. 7 and 8. Her
output, when added to Sunshine Baraquiel’s 53 and Beachie Abiera’s 44 totalled 154 and
468 with one round left in the revived event by PAL.

That’s 45 points better than Del Monte’s 423 after the Bukidnon girls pieced
together a 141. As usual, Lovelyn Guioguio was at the forefront of the attack with 53
markers. Rainstar Roque, the youngest competitor at 12 years old, and Taj Tabanas
checked in with 44 points apiece. Pam Mariano bombed out with a 39.

“We’re in great position. It takes off the pressure,” said Abiera, the playing
captain of Southwoods-Masters, whose men counterparts are reportedly eyeing to
duplicate the ladies’ success by beefing up its team lineup in preparation for the PAL
Men’s Interclub also set here February next year.

With the impending victory of Southwoods-Masters, focus has now shifted to
the Founders and Sportswriters divisions where the frontrunners saw their lead trimmed
considerably.

From 26 points, Negros slowed down with a 96 for 364 with 18 holes to play and
was only up by two as two-time champion Alabang’s 362 after it pulled through with a
120 on a hot and humid Thursday at the par-72, 5,098-yard championship layout.

With big gun and former national team member Anya Tanpinco already finished
with her mandatory two-day stint, her teammates struggled miserably with only Jocelyn
Garcia firing a 42. Joanne Reyes had a 31 and Joan Rojas a 23.

In stark contrast, Alabang, the last champion before the tournament was revived
by PAL this year, displayed more effort this time than the past two days. Ana Luisa
Mendoza paced with a 41, Korean Jang Eun-sil contributed a 40 and Joan Morales added
a 39 in the four-to-play, three-to-count format.

The Eagle Ridge ladies turned in a 109 for 295, cutting the lead of Manila
Southwoods-Legends from 20 to 11 in the Sportswriters Division.

Arlette Dizon and Leonila Patricio shared honors with 40 markers and was
supported by Rosemarie Johnsen’s 29 for Eagle Ridge. Southwoods-Legends (100-
306) was led by Serafina Young-mi’s 38 and the 31s each of Sandy Velhagen and Belle
Villanueva.

Host club Rancho Palos Verdes (97-301), meanwhile, had a virtual hold of the
Friendship Division crown as it pulled away by 38 against two local teams Apo Golf (84-
263) and Davao Golf (93-250).(pr)

Minoza snatches crown, nips Dabawenyos Saban, Bayron in playoff

Frankie Minoza (center) shows his trophy after edging Elmer Saban in the second playoff hole to rule the P2.5 million ICTSI Wack Wack Championship, the final leg of the 16-stage ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour. With him are Narlene Soriano, PR manager of the sponsoring ICTSI, and Wack Wack director Pablo Soon.

Bukidnon's Frankie Minoza pulled off one of the most stirring comebacks on the ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour, foiling Davaoneos Rufino Bayron and Elmer Saban in the second playoff hole to capture the hotly-disputed P2.5 million ICTSI Wack Wack Championship crown at WW's East course, Friday.
Minoza rallied from seven strokes down to force a sudden death, hitting two crucial birdies on Nos. 13 and 16 and a couple of clutch pars as he and Bayron shot the day’s best scores of 70 while Saban wavered with a 75 in a challenging day at Wack Wack.
The troika finished tied for first at one-under 215 at the close of the 54-hole tournament as the erstwhile leaders, including Ferdie Aunzo, succumbed to pressure and the East challenge in a topsy-turvy final round that served as a fitting ending to the 16-stage circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.
As Bayron bowed out after overshooting the 18th green and going out-of-bounds in the first playoff hole, Minoza failed to shake off Saban, flubbing an 18-foot birdie putt. But he pulled through in their third stint on the par-4 finishing hole, tapping in for par then watching Saban miss a pressure-packed six-footer to clinch the win and record his only local crown this year.
But more than the P450,000 purse, the victory proved to be more of a triumph of the spirit for a player on the twilight of his career.
“This is special since I’m already 51 and there are a lot of young players around. But I showed I can still win,” said Minoza, who also won his second Philippine Open crown at Wack Wack in 2007.
It was the third playoff victory recorded in the third full season of the circuit sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc. but it topped the first two in terms of excitement and unpredictability, especially in the final round when at least nine players got into the title picture and the leaders changed after each wayward shot or missed putt.
In the end, it was the experience of Minoza that prevailed, his intimidating presence perhaps rattled off Bayron and Saban in the playoff and took their game out of sync, particularly Saban, who cracked with a three-putt miscue from 18 feet.
“Sayang, I had the chance but I just got unlucky,” rued Saban, who nevertheless banked his biggest earning (P320,000) since winning P92,500 in placing second to Juvic Pagunsan in the ICTSI Apo leg last year.
Bayron, winner at Aboitiz Invitational, settled P210,000.
After two 69s, Aunzo’s two-shot lead vanished into thin air with a bogey on No. 2 and a double-bogey on the par-5 No. 5 when he pulled his second shot …He was never the same after that mishap, dropping two more strokes on Nos. 7 and 9 for a birdie-less 41. He matched that output at the back for an 82 in one of the biggest collapses in the circuit.
Aunzo wound up with a 220 and tumbled to joint eighth with Tony Lascuna (72), BDO Canlubang Invitational winner Artemio Murakami (75), Randy Garalde (74) and Michael Bibat (73).
Rates, tied with Saban at second at the start of the final round, likewise wilted under pressure and finished just a shade better than Aunzo with an 80 for a 221 for a share of 13th with ICTSI Negros Occidental winner and former Phl Open champion Robert Pactolerin (73) and Marlon Dizon (77).
Cassius Casas, winner in the Phl Open at WW in 2001, briefly took the lead with a birdie on No. 11 for a two-under card, only to reel back with a bogey on Nos. 14 and missed joining the playoff with a closing double-bogey. He closed out with a 73 for joint fourth with Charles Hong (71) and Dutch Guido Van der Valk (72) at 217.
Anthony Fernando shot a 71 and a 218 for solo seventh in the tournament backed by MJ Carr Golf Management, Inc., Srixon, Callaway, Unilab, Titleist, Sharp, Custom Clubmakers, Mizuno, PinoyGolfer.com, Inquirer Golf, A Round of Golf, Studio 23, Balls, and Dynamic Sports.(pr)

Aunzo holds off Rates, Saban, hikes lead to 2

Ferdie Aunzo.

Davao's Ferdie Aunzo shot a second straight 69 then watched Joenard Rates and fellow Dabawenyo Elmer Saban run out of holes in a remarkable frontside charge, stretching his overnight one-shot lead to two and moving 18 holes away from snapping a long title drought in the P2.5 million ICTSI Wack Wack Championship at WW's East course.
Aunzo recovered from a poor finish in the first round Wednesday and a shaky start at the back Thursday with three straight birdies from No. 14, negating his back-to-back bogey mishaps from No. 12. He gunned down three more birdies in the last 11 holes against a bogey on No. 6 for a second straight 69 and a 138.
He stood four shots ahead of his nearest pursuer until Rates came charging back from a two-over card with four straight birdies from No. 5 to salvage a second straight two-under 70.
Saban proved to be more impressive as the unfancied bet from talent-rich Davao came in the last flight toting the tournament’s lone bogey-free and best round of six-under 66, completing a fiery 31 at the front spiked by three straight birdies from No. 2.
With 140 totals, Saban and Rates, a pair of relatively unknown players from the chasing pack that includes Dabawenyo Cassius Casas, Bukidnon's Frankie Minoza, Davao's Jhonnel Ababa, Artemio Murakami, Dutch Guido Van der Valk and teener Miguel Tabuena, gained a first-ever crack at the championship which stakes one of the two richest purses in the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.
Casas, winner of the Philippine Open here in 2001, fired a 70 for an even 144 in a tie with Marlon Dizon, who had a second straight 72, while six players, led by Minoza (73), Murakami (70) and Ababa (72), were a stroke farther back at 145s.
But no lead is safe at WW’s east although Aunzo hopes to use his experience against Rates and Saban in the unlikely troika making up the championship flight today.
When asked if he could finally nail the elusive win and bank the top P450,000 purse, Aunzo stressed the need to be consistent in anticipation of a big final round charge by his rivals and a tougher playing condition at WW.
“I just have to be consistent – hit the fairway and make it in regulation without attacking the green,” said Aunzo, who last won at Royal Northwoods in the kickoff leg of the 2009 circuit. “But I still cannot say if I can win here. I just want to play my game and be more confident with my putting.”
In shooting his second 69, he made 28 putts, including a 10-footer from the fringe for birdie on the par-3 16th, which he double-bogeyed in the first round.
Rates, son of former touring pro Joe who had just one top 10 finish in a campaign marred by five missed cuts, held his own against the tour’s long hitters, averting an impending fold-up with clutch birdies inside eight feet to become the chief contender for the top P450,000 purse in the event sponsored by sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc.
“I just stayed relaxed and had fun out there,” said the 31-year-old Rates.
Murakami, winner of the last tournament at BDO Canlubang, rebounded with a 70 as he joined Minoza, Ababa and four others in sixth, including Van der Valk (71), Rufino Bayron (71) and Dante Becierra (00).
Dabawenyo Elmer Salvador, just one behind Aunzo at the start of the round, never recovered from a three-bogey misfortune from No. 3, ending up with a 76 and tumbling to joint 12 with Randy Garalde (69), Charles Hong (72) and Tabuena (73) at 146.
Angelo Que, who reigned at WW in the 2008 Phl Open, struggled for the second straight day with a 77 for a 156 and missed the cut pegged at 152 in the closing tournament of the circuit backed by MJ Carr Golf Management, Inc., Srixon, Callaway, Unilab, Titleist, Sharp, Custom Clubmakers, Mizuno, PinoyGolfer.com, Inquirer Golf, A Round of Golf, Studio 23, Balls, and Dynamic Sports.
Lloyd Go, a member of the national team in the last Putra Cup, took the low amateur honors with one round left as he emerged the lone survivor from the ranks with an impressive 71 for a 149 for joint 22nd.(pr)

ICTSI field faces acid test at Wack Wack

The 81-player strong ICTSI Wack Wack Championship field braces for what could be its toughest challenge in a season-long campaign on the ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour as it tackles WW’s fabled East course in the P2.5 million event firing off  Wednesday, Nov. 23.
With its tricky, narrow layout made more exacting by its longer yardage and sleek putting surface, the par-72 course is expected to bring out the best – or the worst – from the star-studded field chasing the top purse of P450,000 in the final leg of this year’s circuit.
Jay Bayron, the reigning ICTSI PGT Order of Merit champion, returns to the scene of his near Philippine Open win, hoping to re-display the form that netted him a runner-up finish in the country’s premier golfing event last May.
But he will be up against a field that includes the best – except for one – in the land, including Angelo Que, Frankie Minoza, Jhonnel Ababa, Artemio Murakami, Elmer Salvador, Tony Lascuna, Mars Pucay, Gerald Rosales, Mhark Fernando and teener Miguel Tabuena.
“It will be tough but I’m looking forward to playing well and closing out the season with a victory,” said Bayron, who also won the season-ending leg of the Pilipinas Golf Tournament Inc.-organized circuit at Canlubang last year to beat Juvic Pagunsan for the Order of Merit crown.
The field, meanwhile, gets to test the course in today’s (Tuesday) traditional pro-am tournament which features the leading pros and officials and
guests of the event’s chief backers, including International Container Terminal Services, Inc., MJ Carr Golf Management, Inc., Srixon, Callaway, Unilab, BDO, Titleist, Sharp, Custom Clubmakers, Mizuno, PinoyGolfer.com, Inquirer Golf, Omnisource International, A Round of Golf, Studio 23, Balls, and Dynamic Sports.
Although Pagunsan, winner of four legs this year, will not be around due to his suspension, the field remains teeming with talents with Que, Minoza, Salvador, Murakami, Pucay and Lascuna leading the veteran campaigners and three-leg winner Ababa, Del Monte leg champion Fernando and Tabuena heading the roster of rising stars.
The 17-year-old Tabuena, in fact, is coming off an impressive fourth place finish at Taiwan Masters three weeks ago where he won P1.3 million and emerged the top Filipino placer at joint 29th in last week’s Johor Open where he banked another P690,000, making him a worthy title contender in the 54-hole tournament.
While Bayron will be hard-pressed to atone for a failed bid at WW, Que and Minoza will be out to re-live their exploits on the course where they won the Phl Open diadems. Minoza won in 2007 for his second Phl Open crown while Que ruled in 2008.
Also in the fold is Dutch Guido Van der Valk, a regular campaigner in big-time local tournament, who is expected to crowd the top Filipino shotmakers in the event hosted by Wack Wack for the first time.(pr)

Minoza, Que join stellar ICTSI Wack Wack cast

Frankie Minoza and Angelo Que have confirmed participation in next week's rich ICTSI Wack Wack Championship, adding depth to the already talent laden field chasing the top P450,000 purse in the closing leg of the 2011 ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour on Nov. 23-25 at Wack Wack’s east course.
Minoza and Que hardly saw action in this year’s local circuit with the former shuttling from the US Seniors Tour and the Japan PGA Tour and the latter resuming his campaign on the Asian Tour though they always make themselves available to play here whenever they are free.
Que, in fact, started out the year with back-to-back victories, retaining The Country Club Invitational title and then winning the ICTSI Classic at Mt. Malarayat, the second leg of this year’s circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. He saw action in three other local legs but finished way below expectations and had similar so-so finishes on the Asian Tour with just one top 10 effort (joint ninth) at Avantha Masters in India.
Meanwhile, the traditional pro-am tournament will be held Nov. 22 featuring the leading pros and guests and officials from the event's chief backers, including MJ Carr Golf Management, Inc., Srixon, Callaway, Unilab, Titleist, Sharp, Custom Clubmakers, Mizuno, PinoyGolfer.com, Inquirer Golf, A Round of Golf, Studio 23, Balls, and Dynamic Sports.

"It's going to be an exciting tournament, everybody is here and Frankie and Angelo are two of the players to watch out. However, the course will be challenging for all the players, making it an anybody's game," said Colo Ventosa, general manager of the organizing PGT.

Minoza, on the other hand, finished fifth in the ICTSI Orchard Championship and played in two more local legs before campaigning in the US and Japan.
Both are tipped to contend for the crown in the 54-hole event sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc. offering a total prize fund of P2.5 million, matching the richest purse staked on the tour at Orchard.
For one, both have reigned at Wack Wack with Minoza winning his second Philippine Open crown in 2007 and Que topping the country’s premier event in 2008. They, however, struggled in this year’s Open, also at Wack Wack, with Minoza finisheing in joint 44th and Que winding up in joint 55th.
Jay Bayron was the best-placed Filipino in the last Phl Open, losing the title to American Berry Henson by just one stroke although he remains a top title contender in the upcoming event which closes out the 16-leg ICTSI PGT.
Teener Miguel Tabuena, toughened up his stints on the Asian Tour and Asian Development Tour, is also in the fold along with Asian Tour regulars Elmer Salvador, Tony Lascuna, Artemio Murakami, guaranteeing a fierce battle for top honors in the blue-ribbon event.
Three-leg winner Jhonnel Ababa is also out to atone for his mediocre finish at ICTSI Canlubang while Mhark Fernando, Jerson Balasabas, Marvin Dumandan, Anthony Fernando, and Robert Pactolerin and Cassius Casas, also winners of the Phl Open at Wack Wack in 1990 and 2001, respectively, are also expected to join the title hunt.(pr)

Murakami ends slump, posts 8-shot romp

Artemio Murakami (center) holds his trophy after dominating the field in the P1 million BDO Canlubang Golf Invitational, his first victory on the ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour at Cangolf's south course yesterday. With him are Cangolf general manager Luigi Yulo (left) and BDO marketing group head Paquito Vista.

CANLUBANG – Artemio Murakami snapped a year-long title drought with an imposing eight-shot victory in the P1 million BDO Canlubang Golf Invitational, outclassing a slew of club bets, including Richard Sinfuego and Jerson Balasabas, with a closing six-under 66 at Cangolf’s south course here, Friday.
Murakami whisked off a token challenge from Tomokazu Yoshinaga of Japan with a solid 33 at the front then strolled to the year’s second most lopsided victory with no one from among his pursuers able to put up a fight.
He wound up with a 14-under 202 total and won by eight over Sinfuego and Balasabas, who had 210s after a pair of 68s, for the second biggest margin of victory next to Elmer Salvador’s 12-shot win, over Murakami and Mars Pucay, at ICTSI Sherwood last September.
It was also his first win on the three-year-old ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour.
“I feel like, finally my dream is coming through,” said Murakami after annexing his first victory since topping the 
all-Filipino Philippine Open last December. “This is my first win on the PGT and my first since the Phl Open.”
Although the top P200,000 purse hardly boosted his ranking in the Order of Merit - he moved up to No. 10, the win should fire up the 28-year-old Fil-Japanese heading to the final leg of the 16-stage circuit, organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournament Inc., at Wack Wack on Nov. 23-25.
Murakami used a course-record eight-under 64 to launch his bid in the 54-hole tournament sponsored by BDO and though he slowed down with a 72 in the second round, he remained in firm control as the rest failed to press on their respective bids.
Yoshinaga, who started the final round just three shots behind Murakami, wilted under pressure and reeled back with a 40, finishing with a 76 and tumbling to joint seventh with Terence Macatangay, who had a 74, at 215.
Balasabas and Sinfuego, who flashed their local knowledge of the layout with 68 and 69 in the first round only to fumble with 74 and 73, respectively, in the next day, regained their form but their 68s were still overshadowed by Murakami’s 66. Each got P92,500.
Zanie Boy Gialon shot a 75 for a 223 to claim the low amateur honors, his third straight after topping the ICTSI Calatagan leg and the Samsung Amateur Open last month.
James Ryan Lam rallied with a 69 and snatched solo fourth at 213 worth P50,000 while Robert Pactolerin, who nipped Tony Lascuna in a four-hole playoff at ICTSI Negros Occidental Classic, and Elmer Saban shot similar 70s to share fifth place at 214. Each received P37,500.
Peter Villaber fired a 69 and tied Anthony Fernando and Arnold Villacencio, who both had 74s, at ninth at even par 216 in the 54-hole event backed by MJ Carr Golf Management, Inc., Srixon, Callaway, Unilab, Titleist, Sharp, Custom Clubmakers, Mizuno, PinoyGolfer.com, Inquirer Golf, A Round of Golf, Studio 23, Balls, and Dynamic Sports.
Mhark Fernando and Jhonnel Ababa, two of the fancied players earlier tipped to contend for the crown owing to their familiarity with the course they call home, failed to live up the hype. Fernando made a 75 and ended up in joint 15th at 218 while Ababa, winner of two of the last three legs of the circuit, hobbled with a 77 and wound up in 34th with a 224.(pr)

Murakami sets course record 64, leads by 3

BALASABAS

MURAKAMI

CANLUBANG – Artemio Murakami rode on a rare seven-birdie binge at the back to fire a course-record eight-under 64 and post a three-stroke lead over Anthony Fernando at the start of the P1 million BDO Canlubang Golf Invitational at Cangolf’s south course here, Wednesday.

Murakami bucked a late tee-time and frolicked with a superb backside stint on a hot, wind-less day, closing out with a circuit-best 29 highlighted by a stirring seven-birdie run from No. 11 that turned an otherwise mediocre stint into a spectacular round.

The 64 came as a big surprise for the power-hitting Fil-Japanese shotmaker, who scored two wins last year, including the all-Filipino Philippine Open, but remained winless in the season marred by a series of missed cut stints on the Asian Tour.

“Tsamba lang (It was pure luck),” said Murakami, whose career-best, however, was a 62 when he reigned at The Country Club Invitational in 2009.

But this one should fire up the 28-year-old Murakami, whose best finish in this year’s ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour was a joint runner-up effort at ICTSI Sherwood won by Elmer Salvador in record 10-shot fashion. On the Asian Tour, where he scored a breakthrough win in the 2007 Johor Open, he missed the cut seven times in nine appearances.

He birdied No. 9 to snap a run of pars then after missing a 10-footer for birdie on the 10th, he knocked down a four-footer on No. 11 and went on a spree, including a 15-yard putt on the par-3 13th, to establish a new course mark.

Fernando, coming off a joint runner-up finish in last Sunday’s Sabah Masters, birdied the first three holes at the front and added two more for an opening 31. But after scoring an eagle-2 on No. 12 with a 56-degree wedge shot from 120 yards that spun back and disappeared into the hole, the former national champion made two three-putt bogeys for a 36 and a 67.

For a while, Jerson Balasabas appeared headed to gaining first day honors in the 54-hole event sponsored by Banco de Oro as he made a 68 in an early morning flight while Richard Sinfuego put himself in early contention with a 69.

But the duo had to give way to Murakami and Fernando, who shared the lead at six-under in one stretch until Murakami sustained his fiery charge and Fernando wavered on his homeward trip.

However, two of the fancied bets, who like Balasabas and Sinfuego call the par-72 layout their home, fell way behind with over-par scores with Mhark Fernando fumbling with a 7 on the par-4 16th for a 74 and Jhonnel Ababa closing out with a 42 at the front for a 77.

Ababa, coming off a six-shot romp over Mhark Fernando and Tony Lascuna at ICTSI Calatagan two weeks ago, birdied Nos. 14 and 15 to negate a bogey on the 13th but dropped three strokes in the first six holes at the front before fumbling with a triple-bogey seven on No. 7 for a 42.

Fernando, another favorite in the event sponsored by BDO, also made a seven on a lost ball after hitting a tree on his approach on the par-4 No. 16.

Seven players turned in one-under 71s, including Rey Pagunsan, Elmer Saban, Gene Bondoc, Robert Pactolerin, Richard Abaring and unheralded Terence Macatangay and amateur Alex Nallos while Ferdie Aunzo, Rufino Bayron, Tomokazu Yoshinaga and Gary Sales all matched par 72.

The tournament is backed by MJ Carr Golf Management, Inc., Srixon, Callaway, Unilab, Titleist, Sharp, Custom Clubmakers, Mizuno, PinoyGolfer.com, Inquirer Golf, A Round of Golf, Studio 23, Balls, and Dynamic Sports.(pr)

FERNANDO

Davao's Ababa seeks 4th win at BDO Cangolf Invit’l

With two wins in the last three legs on the ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour, Davao's Jhonnel Ababa shoots for another one – and a possible shot at the Order of Merit crown – when the P1 million BDO Canlubang Golf Invitational Presented by ICTSI is fired off Nov. 9 at the Canlubang Golf and Country Club’s north course in Laguna.

Ababa’s six-shot romp over Tony Lascuna and Mhark Fernando at ICTSI Calatagan last week – his third victory after scoring his maiden win at ICTSI Iloilo and ruling the ICTSI Riviera leg, moved the Davaoeno shotmaker to No. 3 in the OOM ranking for a crack at the coveted OOM crown with two legs left in the 16-stage circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

With P976,956 in earnings, the 24-year-old Ababa still stood half-a-million peso behind frontrunning Juvic Pagunsan, who remained on top despite being out of the last six tournaments due to suspension. Pagunsan has amassed a total winnings of P1,474,604 on four leg wins and two runner-up finishes.

Elmer Salvador, winner of the OOM crown when the International Container Terminal Services, Inc. revived the pro circuit in 2009, is at No. 2 with P1,012,019. But focus will be on Ababa, who will not only be carrying the momentum of his big win at Calatagan but will also be playing on a course he is so familiar with.

Aside from the Batangas layout, Cangolf has also been home not only to Ababa but to the other former members of the national team, including Lascuna, Fernando, Jay Bayron, Richard Sinfuego, Jerson Balasabas and Rey Pagunsan.

That could set the stage for a wide-open battle for the top P200,000 prize in the P1 million event although Ababa will still be the marked man owing to his form and confidence.

Ababa needs a strong finish in Canlubang and a victory at Wack Wack later this month to get a shot at the OOM title. Being the final leg and hosting a leg on the circuit for the first time, the Wack Wack Golf Invitational is offering a whopping P2.5 million total prize fund with the winner taking home P450,000.

That also keeps the fourth-running Bayron (P963,494) and No. 5 Lascuna (P878,719) in the hunt for the OOM plum although the duo needs no less than a sweep of the last two legs to contend for the crown.

Marvin Dumandan, running sixth in the OOM standing with P582,572, is also due for a win while Fernando, in seventh with P524,864 winnings, seeks a follow-up to his breakthrough win at ICTSI Del Monte.

Casas is also raring to end a long title drought and hopes to vie for the title and improve his No. 8 ranking with P507,754, while Anthony Fernando is at ninth place with P439,705 and Rufino Bayron is at No. 10 with P357,804 in earnings.

The event is backed by MJ Carr Golf Management, Inc., Srixon, Callaway, Unilab, Titleist, Sharp, Custom Clubmakers, Mizuno, PinoyGolfer.com, Inquirer Golf, A Round of Golf, Studio 23, Balls, and Dynamic Sports.(pr)

Davao's Ababa coasts to 6-shot romp for 3rd ICTSI crown

CALATAGAN, Batangas – Davao's Jhonnel Ababa bucked a shaky start with a fiery windup to rout the field with a closing 71 and annex his third leg victory on the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour via a six-shot victory over Mhark Fernando and fellow Dabawenyo Tony Lascuna in the ICTSI Calatagan Challenge here.

What had appeared to be a wild finish turned into one-man show as Ababa rebounded from an opening 38 with three birdies in the first four holes at the back, frustrating erstwhile pursuer Cassius Casas and a charging Fernando to complete a wire-to-wire victory in the P1 million tournament.

He pooled a 206 and beat Fernando and Lascuna, who both carded 71s, by six for the top P200,000 purse – his third leg victory in the 16-stage circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. after ruling the ICTSI Iloilo and ICTSI Riviera stages in close fashions.

“Medyo sinuwerte na lang sa backnine,” said the soft-spoken Ababa, who is expected to move up to No. 3 from No. 5 in the Order of Merit ranking with two legs left in the circuit sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc.

Fernando, six shots behind Ababa at the start of the final round, rallied to within two with a solid 34 but fumbled with a 37 at the back while Casas moved within a stroke at the turn but faded with a double-bogey, par, bogey-bogey start at the back and limped home with a 77.

Fernando and Lascuna wound up with 212s and shared the combined prize of P185,000 while Anthony Fernando shot the day’s best score of 69 and salvaged joint fourth with Marvin Dumandan, who had a 75, at 213. Each got P45,000.

On hand during awards rites were ICTSI PR mananger Narlene Soriano and Calatagan general manager Dave Hernandez.

“It’s not yet my time but I know it will come,” said Mhark Fernando, who had hoped to add the crown to his maiden win at ICTSI Del Monte recently.

Casas tumbled to joint sixth at 214 in the company of Ebarra Quiachon, who fired a 70, and Joenard Rates and Jun Bernis, who both had 75s while Elmer Saban and Ferdie Aunzo shared 10th place at 215 after 73 and 74, respectively.

Zanie Boy Gialon pocketed his second amateur crown in as many weeks as the reigning Samsung Am champion made a 77 for a 222 for joint 24th overall, beating ICTSI-The Country Club teammate Alex Nallos, who skied to an 80-226, by four for low amateur honors.

Ababa, who had anchored his bid in the first two rounds with solid stints at the frontside, turned in an uncharacteristic 38 marred by back-to-back bogeys from No. 8, enabling Casas to threaten within one with a 37 and Mhark Fernando to close within two with a 34.

But that was the closest that his rivals could get as Ababa regained his touch, rhythm and all and rammed in those birdies inside six feet to foil his rivals and record another win in the event backed by MJ Carr Golf Management, Inc., Srixon, Callaway, Unilab, Titleist, Sharp, Custom Clubmakers, Mizuno, PinoyGolfer.com, Inquirer Golf, A Round of Golf, Studio 23, Balls, and Dynamic Sports.(pr)

Ababa holds off charging fellow Dabawenyo, hikes lead to 2

CALATAGAN, Batangas – Jhonnel Ababa slowed down with a 69 but moved farther ahead by two, this time against fellow Dabawenyo and title-hungry Cassius Casas, who pressed his bid with a 67 in the second round of the ICTSI Calatagan Challenge at the Calatagan Golf and Country Club here Thursday.

Ababa, who fired a near-flawless 66 in seizing the early lead in windy Wednesday, bogeyed the par-3 No. 8 on his homeward trip for the second straight day and missed posting a more comfortable lead heading to the final round of the P1 million, 54-hole tournament.

But with a nine-under 135 aggregate, Ababa is well on target for a third leg victory on the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour although a slew of talented players, led by Casas and Marvin Dumandan, are out to foil his bid in this 14th leg of the 16-stage circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

“I have to shoot a 66 or a 67 to get a crack at the crown. It’s tough since we are chasing a local boy,” said Casas, referring to Ababa, who, along with Mhark Fernando and a couple of others, have made the layout their base during their amateur days.

Casas leaned on a three-birdie string from No. 3 to fire the day’s best 67 and take the challenger’s role from joint seventh as he pooled a 137 to fan his hopes for a first tour win since snatching the ICTSI Del Monte crown last year.

“I need some luck to pull it off. There are just too many good players behind,” said Ababa, seeking a follow-up to his playoff victory over Jay Bayron at ICTSI Iloilo and a dominating win at ICTSI Riviera.

He actually had a good start at the back, hitting birdies on Nos. 12 and 13 but held back by a bogey on the 17th. He resumed his charge at the front with three birdies on Nos. 3, 6 and 7 but dropped another stroke on the 8th when he missed the 203-yard green with a 5-wood for the second straight time.

Dumandan, another player hungry for a victory, birdied three of the first four holes at the front and momentarily wrested the lead from Ababa. But he wavered midway through with missed green bogeys and needed to knock down birdies on Nos. 14 and 15 to save a 71 and a 138.

“I had a couple of errant shots and missed par-putts inside six feet,” rued Dumandan in Filipino. “But I hope to settle down with my game tomorrow (today) and get that elusive win.”

Jun Bernis, tied with Dumandan just one shot off Ababa at the start of the round, recovered from a woeful 39 at the front with three straight birdies from No. 13 for a 72 although he tumbled down to joint fourth with Joenard Rates at 139.

Rates shot the day’s lone bogey-free round of 70.

After an opening 70, Fernando threatened to dominate with a fiery 32 at the front but the former national champion and winner of the ICTSI Del Monte stop this year, fumbled with a double-bogey on No. 12 and dropped another stroke on the par-5 13th for a 39 and a 71. He had a 141.

Also at three-under total were Tony Lascuna and Ferdie Aunzo with the former failing to sustain a solid start of 34 with a closing 37 for a 71 and the latter fighting back from a 72 with a 69.

Bayron, the reigning Order of Merit champion, bounced back with a 71 after 77 to make the 40-player cut but stood too far behind at 148 to contend in the tournament sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc.

Zanie Boy Gialon primed up for another win after topping the Samsung Amateur Open last week as he shot a 70 for a 145 to lead ICTSI-The Country Club teammate Alex Nallos, who had a 72-146, in the battle for low amateur honors.

The event is backed by MJ Carr Golf Management, Inc., Srixon, Callaway, Unilab, Titleist, Sharp, Custom Clubmakers, Mizuno, PinoyGolfer.com, Inquirer Golf, A Round of Golf, Studio 23, Balls, and Dynamic Sports.(pr)

Davao's Ababa sets pace with brilliant 66

CALATAGAN, Batangas - Davao's Jhonnel Ababa lived up to the hype and fired a six-under 66, setting in motion his title bid in the P1 million ICTSI Calatagan Challenge and a third leg victory on the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Circuit here Wednesday.

Flashing his familiarity with the Calatagan layout where he honed his talent and skills during his amateur days, Ababa went on a birdie-binge early, making five at the front against a bogey for a 32 and stayed at the helm throughout with two more birdies at the back.

But his sterling round netted him just one stroke as the other fancied bets also tamed the frontside with a slew of under-par scores despite windy condition, including Marvin Dumandan and Jun Bernis, who shot 33 and 34, respectively, for identical 67s while Gerald Rosales turned in perhaps his most strongest start in a long while – a three-under 69.

With Jerome Delariarte and Joenard Rates also making 69s and Mhark Fernando, Cassius Casas, Tony Lascuna and Robert Pactolerin firing similar 70s, the battle for the top P200,000 purse in the 54-hole event, the 14th leg of a 16-stage circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc., could go down-to-the-wire.

But first, they need to stop Ababa.

The winner at ICTSI Iloilo and ICTSI Riviera legs showed his local knowledge of the course, birdying the four par-5s and added three more birdies that negated his lone bogey mishap at the par-3 No. 8 from an errant tee-shot.

“It’s windy out there and I just got a bit lucky,” said the soft-spoken Ababa in downplaying his brilliant round. “But it’s still a long way to go and there are too many good players around.”

They include the power-hitting Dumandan, who gunned down six birdies, three on each nine but missed joining Ababa at the helm with a bogey on No. 12 where he failed to return a six-footer.

“The course is good and I feel good of my chances. But I have to polish my putting to get the elusive win,” said Dumandan, a three-leg winner last year but remained winless heading to the last three stages of the circuit.
Jay Bayron, meanwhile, virtually kissed his Order of Merit title retention bid goodbye with an atrocious 77 for joint 38th in a field of 72 players.

Like Dumandan, Bernis made a faulty start at the back, dropping a stroke on No. 12. But the former national champion chasing his maiden pro win fought back with four birdies in the next six holes then birdied Nos. 6 and 7 to tie Dumandan in second.

Rosales, the former Philippine Open champion still in search of a big finish coming off an injury, bucked a double-bogey on No. 14 with six birdies against one more bogey for a 33-36 card, forcing a three-way tie for fourth.

Delariarte strung up nines of 35-34 while Rates, the least fancied bet among the big guns in the tournament sponsored by International Container Terminals Services, Inc., anchored his bid with a 33 at the front for the other 69.

Lascuna bogeyed No. 8 on his way home and dropped into a tie with Casas, who rallied with a 34 at the back, Pactolerin, who leaned on a three-birdie string from No. 11, for identical 70s.
Fernando, the other title favorite, had a mediocre three-birdie, one-bogey stint for a 70 on a course he also calls home.

Gene Bondoc was the other player who broke par with a 71 while Artemio Murakami overcame an awful 40 at the back with four straight birdies from No. 1 to salvage a 72.

Other even pars scorers were Dante Becierra, Ferdie Aunzo, Albin Engino, Rolando Marabe, Elmer Saban and Charles Hong.

Alex Nallos of ICTSI-The Country Club team carded a 74 to share the amateur lead with Joey Huerva, one stroke ahead of Samsung Am champion Zanie Boy Gialon, who struggled with a 75.

The event is backed by MJ Carr Golf Management, Inc., Srixon, Callaway, Unilab, Titleist, Sharp, Custom Clubmakers, Mizuno, PinoyGolfer.com, Inquirer Golf, A Round of Golf, Studio 23, Balls, and Dynamic Sports.(pr)

Fierce battle seen as ICTSI Calatagan unfolds

CALATAGAN, Batangas - Jhonnel Ababa, Mhark Fernando and Tony Lascuna hope to make the most of their early morning tee-off and build the needed momentum in what is tipped to be a tightly fought showdown for the ICTSI Calatagan crown beginning Wednesday, Oct. 26 at the Calatagan Golf and Country Club here.

Ababa, chasing a third leg victory on the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour, drew a 6:50 a.m. start with Gene Bondoc and Carl Santos-Ocampo on No. 1, eager to get going on a course he, along with Fernando and a few others, are so familiar with, having made the rolling par-72 layout their base during their amateur days.

Fernando is also out to redeem himself from mediocre finishes in the last three legs of the circuit after scoring his maiden win at ICTSI Del Monte last August. Paired with Michael Bibat and Ruben Sasutil, he is set to start at 7 a.m. when playing condition is expected to be ideal.

But the former national champion, who missed the cut at the rich Aboitiz Invitational and finished outside of the top 10 at ICTSI Riviera and ICTSI Sherwood, said emphasis will be on the long game since the tight course punishes errant drives.

“I feel good, my condition is okay,” said Fernando in Filipino. “But the course is tough, you can’t get a good target if you hit a bad drive.”

Lascuna, perhaps the best player never to have won a leg since ICTSI revived the pro circuit in 2009, tees off ahead of Fernando at 6:50 a.m. in the company of Arnold Villacencio and Jun Bernis, upbeat of his chances in the P1 million event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

"I need to a good start to contend (for the title). It has been a long winless spell for me," said Lascuna, who lost in a four-hole playoff to Robert Pactolerin at ICTSI Negros Occidental Classic last July. "Hopefully, I can finally win here."

But a host of others are also out to nail the victory in the 54-hole tournament worth P200,000, the third to the last event lined up in this year's 16-stage circuit sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc.

There is Jay Bayron, the only player in the 69-player field with an outside chance to foil Juvic Pagunsan's bid to annex the Order of Merit crown. Bayron, who snatched the OOM title from Pagunsan with a final leg victory at ICTSI Canlubang Golf Invitational last year, is running third in the OOM race but half-a-million peso behind Pagunsan in earnings.

But Bayron, the back-to-back Aboitiz Invitational winner, will have a lot of work do in the 10:20 a.m. flight with Pactolerin and Jerson Balasabas even as Cassius Casas, another title contender, is bunched with Ferdie Aunzo and Antonio Asistio II in the 10:30 a.m. flight on No. 1.

Marvin Dumandan, a three-leg winner last year but still winless this year, is also due for a win with the long-hitting Davaoeno shotmaker drawing a 10:20 a.m. flight on No. 10 with Richard Sinfuego and Dante Becierra.

Gerald Rosales and Artemio Murakami, both former Philippine Open champions, are also in the hunt with the former teeing off at 10:30 a.m. on No. 10 with Rufino Bayron and Benjie Magada and the latter playing in the group of Randy Garalde and Albin Engino at 10:40 a.m., also at the backside.

Zanie Boy Gialon, fresh from his title romp in the Samsung Amateur Open at Summit Point, heads the chase for the amateur crown in the event backed by MJ Carr Golf Management, Inc., Srixon, Callaway, Unilab, Titleist, Sharp, Custom Clubmakers, Mizuno, PinoyGolfer.com, Inquirer Golf, A Round of Golf, Studio 23, Balls, and Dynamic Sports.(pr)

Davao's Bayron bids to snatch second OOM plum

Dabawenyo Jay Bayron goes for the first of two victories he needs to retain the Order of Merit crown on the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour as he joins the hunt in the P1 million ICTSI Calatagan Challenge which reels off on Wednesday, Oct. 26 at Calatagan Golf and Country Club in Batangas.
With OOM frontrunner Juvic Pagunsan out for the rest of the season and second-running Elmer Salvador opting to compete in Malaysia this week, Bayron gets the chance to snatch the coveted OOM plum with a strong finish in the last three legs of the 16-leg circuit.
“It can be done but it will be tough,” said Bayron, who did the trick last year when he won the circuit’s final leg at ICTSI Canlubang Invitational to nip Pagunsan by P85,000 in total earnings for the OOM crown.
Boosted by his half-a-million prize in his successful title-retention bid at Aboitiz Invitational in Cebu last month, Bayron now has winnings of P949,494 to move up to No. 3 behind Pagunsan’s P1,474,604 and Salvador’s P949,494.
But it will take him no less than two victories and a runner-up finish in the last three legs to frustrate Pagunsan for the second straight time. From Calatagan, the Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.-organized circuit will go to Cangolf on Nov. 9-11 before winding up at Wack Wack on Nov. 23-25.
Meanwhile, Bayron leads the other top pros on Tuesday's traditional pro-am tournament which features amateur players who make up the roster of the tournament’s chief backers, including MJ Carr Golf Management, Inc., Srixon, Callaway, Unilab, Titleist, Sharp, Custom Clubmakers, Mizuno, PinoyGolfer.com, Inquirer Golf, A Round of Golf, Studio 23, Balls, and Dynamic Sports.
Fourth running Tony Lascuna (P786,219) is also in the 69-player starting field but the ace Davaoeno shotmaker, still in search of his first win on the tour, remains too far behind Pagunsan, Salvador and Bayron to contend for the OOM crown.
Others vying for top honors in the 54-hole tournament, sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc., are Artemio Murakami, Jhonnel Ababa, Mhark Fernando, Anthony Fernando, Antonio Asistio II, Ferdie Aunzo, Jerson Balasabas, Rufino Bayron, Dante Becierra, Jun Bernis,
Michael Bibat, Gene Bondoc, Cassius Casas, Marvin Dumandan, Rey Pagunsan, Robert Pactolerin, Gerald Rosales, Richard Sinfuego, Peter Villaber, Erwin Vinluan and Danny Zarate.(pr)

Fernando, Ababa duel looms at ICTSI-Calatagan

Mhark Fernando and Dabawenyo Jhonnel Ababa hope to flaunt their local knowledge of the Calatagan layout as they lead the title chase in the P1 million ICTSI Calatagan Challenge unfolding Oct. 26 in Batangas.

Fernando, Ababa and the rest of the ICTSI-Cangolf squad have made the challenging par-72 course their base during the National Caddies Open days where they honed their talent and skills, giving them an edge in terms of familiarity in the upcoming event.

Fernando is seeking a follow-up to his breakthrough victory at ICTSI Del Monte Championship last August where he beat current Order of Merit leader Juvic Pagunsan by one in Bukidnon.

The former national champion, however, groped for form in the succeeding legs of the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour, missing the cut at Aboitiz Invitational and winding up outside of the top 10 at ICTSI Riviera and ICTSI Sherwood legs.

Ababa, on the other hand, is looking for his third win in the circuit after nipping Jay Bayron at ICTSI Iloilo Golf Challenge and dominating the field at ICTSI Riviera Classic last month.

Meanwhile, some of the leading pros in the 69-player starting field get their chance to test the layout in the traditional pro-am tournament on Oct. 25 where they will be paired with the amateur players making up the roster of the event’s chief backers.

They include MJ Carr Golf Management, Inc., Srixon, Callaway, Unilab, Titleist, Sharp, Custom Clubmakers, Mizuno, PinoyGolfer.com, Inquirer Golf, A Round of Golf, Studio 23, Balls, and Dynamic Sports.

Also vying for the top P200,000 purse in the 14th leg of the 16-stage circuit are Jay Bayron, Tony Lascuña, Cassius Casas, Artemio Murakami, Antonio Asistio II, Rufino Bayron, Marvin Dumandan, Jun Bernis, Anthony Fernando, Gerald Rosales, Rey Pagunsan, Robert Pactolerin, Elmer Saban and Carl Santos-Ocampo.

From Calatagan, the tour shifts to Canlubang for the ICTSI Canlubang Golf Invitational on Nov. 9-11 before winding up at Wack Wack for the ICTSI Wack Wack Championship on Nov. 23-25.

Like the ICTSI Orchard Golf Championship, the Wack Wack event will offer a total prize fund of P2.5 million tournament with the winner receiving P450,000.(pr)

Gialon shoots record 66; Ardina leads with 68

Zanie Boy Gialon set a new course record of six-under 66 at Summit Point as he seized a whopping six-stroke lead over Rupert Zaragosa and Alex Nallos while Dottie Ardina showed fine form and fired a four-under 68 to pace the ladies side of the Samsung Amateur Open in Lipa, Batangas, Friday.

Gialon sizzled with seven birdies against a lone bogey, including four in a flawless stint at the backside of the rolling layout as he dominated the Championship Division on a hot, humid day and shattered the previous best of 69 by Omar Dungca during the 2008 Summit Invitational.

More importantly, it gave the top ICTSI-The Country Club bet a big cushion over the fancied Zaragosa as they head to the final 18 holes of the annual event presented by Samsung Phils. which also features the cream of the ladies crop and future stars.

Zaragosa, the reigning juniors and national champion from ICTSI-Cangolf team, mixed three birdies with the same number of bogeys and settled for a 72 in a tie with Nallos, who made five birdies but fumbled with five bogeys, while Banny Abaño of Del Monte carded a 73 in a tie with Koreans Hwang Kang Youl and Kim Chang Yeon from Riviera.

Art Arbole, winner of last week’s Cangolf Am Open, wavered with two 37s and dropped into a tie with five others in seventh place while Magno Arancon, also of Del Monte, and J. Austria shot 75s and Reymon Jaraula skied to an 80.

Ardina, enjoying top form, hit five birdies, including three at the front and back-to-back from No. 13 as she overcame a missed-green bogey on No. 8 for a 69, moving 18 holes away from annexing her third straight crown after ruling the Malaysian Juniors and the Thailand Amateur Open the last three weeks.

She led ICTSI teammate Chihiro Ikeda by two with the latter fighting back from a double-bogey mishap on No. 6 with birdies on Nos. 3, 9, 14 and 16 for a 70. Lovelynn Guioguio made a 71 while Sarah Ababa matched par 72.

Ardina and Ikeda, along with alternate Jayvie Agojo, are using the event as part of their buildup for next month’s SEA Games in Jakarta where the ICTSI-backed Philippine team is the defending champion and Ikeda the reigning individual titlist.

Miya Legaspi, the 11-year-old wonder, turned in a three-over 75 marked by two birdies as the five-time US Kids Golf champion tied for fifth with Sunshine Baraquiel, Chanelle Avaricio and Daniella Uy.

Meanwhile, A. Alegre and H. Ahn carded identical 75s to lead Class A of the event sponsored by Airphil Express, Mizuno, Custom Clubmakers, Footjoy and Titliest by Empire Golf, Loro, Endress+Hauser, Sweet Photolicious, Torch Resto Bar, Bluemansion Enterprise, GlucosCare, Omnisource International, Business Mirror and Inquirer Golf.

J. Seo made a 73 and posted a four-stroke lead over Dae Kim in Class B while T. Ilagan shot an 86 for a one-shot lead over V. Plata in Class C. G. Aguado took the Class D lead with an 89 while G. Villacencio and D. Salvador paced the ladies Classes B and C with 79 and 98, respectively.(pr)

UPAA-Davao Tee-for-Two Golf Tournament on Saturday

The UP Alumni Association-Davao holds its "Tee-for-Two" golf tournament on Saturday, 15 October 2011 at the Apo Golf and Country Club, Bago Aplaya, Davao City. According to Committee Chairman Eugene T. Go, the tournament is open to alumni, friends and interested tournament players. Tournament beneficiaries are the UPAA-Davao Math Literacy Project and the UP Mindanao Oblation Plaza. The tournament is open to both male and female amateur golfers. Entrance fee is P2.500. Registration is at 5:30-6AM and Tee-Off Time will be at 6AM and 11AM. Dinner and Awarding will be at Garden Oases Resort at 6:30PM.

The Tournament Format will adopt the 18-Hole System 36 Best Ball Team Competition with two players to a team. Mulligan fee of P200.00 entitles the player to one  mulligan per nine holes. Trophies will be awarded to each of the Gross Champions, Gross Runners-Up, Net Champions and Net Runners-Up for Classes A, B, and C. Special Prizes will be given for "Nearest the Pin" and "Hole in One", both in Hole no. 11. Mulligan not counted as hole-in-one. Major and Minor Raffle Prizes will be given away to the lucky winners during the Awards Dinner at Garden Oases Resort at 6:30 PM.

Sponsorship packages are available for Eagle sponsor, Birdie sponsor and Par sponsor. Interested parties may contact Ludwig Ruyeras at 221-0577 or 0917-632-3202.(pr)

Davao's Salvador cruises to record 12-shot win

Elmer Salvador gets high five from his caddie after completing his 12-shot title romp in the P1 million ICTSI Sherwood Hills Classic.

TRECE MARTIRES, Cavite – Dabawenyo Elmer Salvador annexed his first victory in the season in record fashion, firing a four-under 68 and routing a stellar field with a whopping 12-stroke romp over Mars Pucay and Artemio Murakami in the ICTSI Sherwood Hills Classic at the Sherwood Hills Golf and Country Club here.

Four ahead of fellow Dabawenyo Cassius Casas at the start of the final round, Salvador birdied the first three holes to pull away for good then coasted with three more birdies against two bogeys for a closing 32-36 card to post the most lopsided victory in the three-year circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

Counting his earlier bogey-free rounds of 68 and 67, Salvador emerged as the only player to complete a run of under-par scores at one of the country’s toughest courses, winding up with an aggregate of 13-under 203.

“I’m happy to win again. I just thought that I needed a good start to put the pressure on them,” said Salvador, the 2009 Order of Merit champion who went on a scoring slump after topping the kickoff leg of last year’s circuit at Mt. Malarayat.

Salvador took the top purse of P200,000 and is expected to surge past Jay Bayron for the No. 2 spot in the OOM derby with four legs left in the 16-stage series sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc. He can also unseat current OOM leader Juvic Pagunsan, who earlier registered the biggest margin of victory at four over Salvador in completing a three-peat at ICTSI Apo Golf Invitational but is out for the rest of the season.

Pucay, who figured in a four-way tie with Salvador, Tony Lascuna and Gene Bondoc with a 68 in the first round, bogeyed the last two holes and stumbled with a 73, dropping into a tie for second with Murakami at 215.

Murakami, who sparked hopes of a big comeback from an opening 75 by firing the tournament-best 66 Friday, never recovered from a three-bogey string from No. 3 and limped home with a 74. He split the combined P185,000 prize with Pucay.

Casas, who vowed to go all out to foil Salvador and fan his own bid for a first win in 14 months, bowed out early with a horrible 9 on the par-4 after dumping two balls into the water hazard, shooting himself in the foot instead with a 77. He ended up tied for fourth with Bondoc, who matched par 72, at 216. They shared the combined P90,000 purse.

Michael Bibat took solo sixth with a 217 after a 73 worth P35,000 while Richard Sinfuego carded a 74 to finish seventh at 219 worth P30,000.
Benjie Magada shot a 73 while Gerald Rosales and Danny Zarate carded a 74 and 76, respectively, to share eighth place at 220.

With his pursuers fumbling with early bogeys, Salvador actually didn’t need a good start to outclass the field.

With Casas tumbling down with that 9 and Murakami reeling with three straight bogeys, Pucay made a bogey on No. 2, leaving Salvador all alone on top and the rest scrounging for the crumbs of a second place finish.

Salvador, the first player in a long while to complete a bogey-free stint through 36 holes, stretched his amazing run with three straight birdies before making his first bogey on the 41st hole when he failed to return a seven-footer after missing the green.

But he quickly recovered with back-to-back birdies from No. 8 for a 32, took his second bogey on No. 13 after again missing the green but recovered the stroke with an eight-foot birdie putt on the next.

“I had a good feel in this game and it’s a nice feeling winning again. It could’ve been my second victory in three weeks had I won in Singapore,” said Salvador, referring to his six-hole playoff loss to Indian Himmat Rai in the Singapore Classic of the Asian Tour.

The 12th leg of the 16-stage circuit was backed by MJ Carr Golf Management, Inc., Srixon, Callaway, Unilab, BDO, Titleist, Sharp, Custom Clubmakers, Mizuno, PinoyGolfer.com, Inquirer Golf, Omnisource International, A Round of Golf, Studio 23, Balls, and Dynamic Sports.(pr)

Flawless Salvador sizzles with 67, pulls away by 4

TRECE MARTIRES, Cavite – Dabawenyo Elmer Salvador blitzed the Sherwood Hills layout with another bogey-free round – a five-under 67 – as he threatened to blow the field in the P1 million ICTSI Sherwood Hills Classic with a four-stroke lead over townmate Cassius Casas here Friday.
Sustaining the form he showed in shooting a lead-tying 68 in the first round, Salvador outgunned veteran Asian Tour campaigner and erstwhile joint leader Mars Pucay with three birdies at the front then added two more coming home to become the first player in recent memory to preserve a bogey-free stint throughout 36 holes.
“I’ve been hitting the ball quite well these days,” said Salvador, who gained so much confidence following his runner-up finish to Indian Himmat Rai in the Singapore Classic of the Asian Tour last month where he lost in a thrilling six-hole playoff.
But what motivates the reticent Davaoeno shotmaker most is his desire to end a long title drought in the ICTSI revival of the pro tour he dominated in 2009 when he emerged the Order of Merit champion.
“I actually can’t remember when was the last time I won. It’s been a long time,” added Salvador, whose nine-under 135 aggregate put him way ahead of Casas and 18 holes away from scoring his first victory since topping the kick off leg of last year’s circuit at Mt. Malarayat.
Casas, who snatched the ICTSI Del Monte crown from Salvador last year after the latter and two others were disqualified on a final-hole infraction, birdied three of his last 11 holes in scorching heat to shoot that 69 and assume the challenger’s role at 139.
His hunger for title also makes Casas a serious threat in today’s final round of the 54-hole event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.
“My confidence is very high and I’ll do everything to win again,” said Casas.
While the other frontrunners stumbled with over par scores and tumbled down the leaderboard, one player who struggled in the first round bounced back with an impressive card to fuel his own title bid in the tournament sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc.
Artemio Murakami, virtually written off with a so-so 75 in the first round, fought back with a 66 as he tamed the backside of the wind-raked Sherwood with a five-under 31, capped by a four-birdie windup. He then eagled the par-5 eighth to negate his final hole bogey at No. 9 for a 141 for third, six strokes adrift.
Pucay, who matched Salvador’s opening 68 to force a four-way tie for the lead with Gene Bondoc and Tony Lascuna Thursday, lost his way in the face of Salvador’s awesome form, fumbling with four bogeys against two birdies for a 74 and a 142.
Lascuna came in ruffled by the wind in one of the late afternoon flights and hobbled with a 75, dropping to solo fifth at 143 while Bondoc also fell by the wayside with a four-over 76, slipping to joint sixth with Michael Bibat, who shot a 69, and Danny Zarate, who carded a 74.
Pooling similar 145s were Richard Sinfuego (71), Elmer Saban and Arnold Villacencio, who both had 75s.
ICTSI Del Monte leg winner Mhark Fernando carded a 73 and stood 10 strokes off Salvador at 148 in the company of Anthony Fernando, who matched par 72, and ICTSI Bacolod leg winner Robert Pactolerin, who had a 74, while two-leg winner Jhonnel Ababa, who reigned in Iloilo and Riviera, limped home with a 75 and fell to 149.
The 12th leg of the 16-stage circuit is backed by MJ Carr Golf Management, Inc., Srixon, Callaway, Unilab, BDO, Titleist, Sharp, Custom Clubmakers, Mizuno, PinoyGolfer.com, Inquirer Golf, Omnisource International, A Round of Golf, Studio 23, Balls, and Dynamic Sports.(pr)

Ababa seeks 3rd ICTSI win at Sherwood

In-form Dabawenyo Jhonnel Ababa gears up for another crack at the crown on the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour as he heads the pack in the P1 million ICTSI Sherwood Hills Golf Classic slated Sept. 28-30 at the Sherwood Hills Golf Club.
The tough, windy par-72 course in Trece Martires, Cavite poses almost the same challenge as that of Riviera’s layout where Ababa booked her second leg victory by rallying from seven strokes down to frustrate Jay Bayron and nip Cassius Casas by one.
But Ababa, the former amateur hotshot who scored his maiden win on the tour with a playoff victory over Bayron in the ICTSI Iloilo Golf Challenge last July, will have a tougher set of rivals next week with the return to action by the likes of Asian Tour campaigners Tony Lascuna, Artemio Murakami, Gerald Rosales and Elmer Salvador.
Also in the 70-player roster is a hungry bunch of players hoping to finally hit paydirt in the 12th leg of the 16-stage tour sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc. and organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments. Inc. They include Antonio Asistio II, Jerson Balasabas, Jun Bernis, Rufino Bayron, Dante Becierra, Michael Bibat, Gene Bondoc, Jerome Delariarte, Anthony Fernando, Charles Hong, Randy Garalde, Elmer Saban, Rey Pagunsan, Erwin Vinluan and Arnold Villacencio.
Also in the fold are leg champions Mhark Fernando (ICTSI Del Monte), Robert Pactolerin (ICTSI Negros Occidental) and Jay Bayron (Aboitiz Invitational) and former winners Ferdie Aunzo, Danny Zarate, Benjie Magada and Marvin Dumandan.
Meanwhile, Ababa remained in fifth place in the Order of Merit ranking but his recent victory hiked his earnings to P761,456, moving him within Lascuna, who has P764,219.
Juvic Pagunsan stayed way out in front with P1,474,604 on four victories while Bayron, the reigning OOM champion, is in second with P933,994 earnings. Salvador, the first OOM winner in 2009, remains in third with P812,019, making the last five legs crucial for the OOM title contenders with Pagunsan out for the rest of the season.
Meanwhie, Villamor Golf Club will host a leg in the circuit for the first time in three years on Oct. 19-21 for the 13th leg. The tour will also make its first stop at Calatagan Golf Club in Batangas for the ICTSI Calatagan Challenge on Oct. 26-28 before Canlubang hosts the penultimate leg on Nov. 9-11 with the ICTSI Canlubang Golf Invitational. The tour winds up with the ICTSI Wack Wack Championship at Wack Wack, which is also hosting a leg for the first time on Nov. 23-25.
The circuit is backed by MJ Carr Golf Management, Inc., Srixon, Callaway, Unilab, BDO, Titleist, Sharp, Custom Clubmakers, Mizuno, PinoyGolfer.com, Inquirer Golf, Omnisource International, A Round of Golf, Studio 23, Balls, and Dynamic Sports.(pr)

Davao's Ababa snatches win as Bayron cracks

SILANG, Cavite - Davao's Jhonnel Ababa rallied from seven strokes down and nipped townmate Cassius Casas by one with a closing one-under 70 for the ICTSI Riviera Classic crown as erstwhile leader Jay Bayron, another Dabawenyo, collapsed with an 81 at Riviera's Langer course here, Friday.
Ababa came through with three birdies in the last 11 holes in second-to-last flight to fuel his title bid then watched Bayron throw away strokes in the last six holes to snatch the crown, his second in the last five legs of the circuit. He wound up with a 217, four-over at the wind-raked, hazard-laden par-71 layout.
But it proved enough to secure a follow-up to his victory in the ICTSI Iloilo Golf Challenge at Sta. Barbara last July where he also fought back from five strokes down to beat Bayron in a playoff for his maiden win on the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc.
"I was just lucky and Jay had a bad game," said Ababa, who banked another P200,000 from the total prize fund of P1 million in the 11th leg of the 16-stage tour sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc.
Bayron, who appeared headed for another romp after storming to a five-shot lead over Rey Pagunsan and seven over Ababa with 18 holes to play, bogeyed the first three holes in windy condition, made another three-string bogey from No. 5 before dropping two strokes on No. 9 against a lone birdie on No. 8 for a horrible 42.
He birdied No. 10 but made four bogeys in the last six holes for that nine-over 81 in a bizarre fold-up from a player who routed the field at Aboitiz Invitational presented by ICTSI with a startling five-under 30 at the backside of Cebu Country Club three weeks ago.
"I had a tough day out there. The wind was so strong from the start," rued Bayron, whose championship flightmates Pagunsan and Anthony Fernando also turned in over-par rounds of 77 and 73, respectively.
Casas, who shared the first-round lead with Antonio Asistio II but reeled back with a 77 in the second round, three-putted No. 17 and missed forcing a playoff with Ababa. He also shot a 70 but fell short by one with a 218 worth P120,000.
"If not for my 77 in the second round, I would've won this one," said Casas, who last won at ICTSI Del Monte last year.
Playing in third to the last flight, Casas matched par 35 at the front to catch up with Ababa and made two birdies against a bogey at the back to remain tied for the lead. But he three-putted the 17th to fall behind and missed an eight-footer for birdie on the tough finishing hole.
Fernando settled for solo third with a 219 after a 73 while Bayron, the reigning Order of Merit champion, tumbled down to fourth with a 221.
Asistio carded a 74 and wound up tied for fifth with Richard Sinfuego (72) and Pagunsan (77) at 222 while Mhark Fernando matched Bayron's tournament-best 67 in the second round with his own four-under card as he salvaged solo eighth at 223.
Korean Wang Jeung Hun made a 74 and emerged the top amateur with a 224 as he shared ninth place with Randy Garalde (74) and Jerson Balasabas (75) in the tournament backed by MJ Carr Golf Management, Inc., Srixon, Callaway, Unilab, BDO, Titleist, Sharp, Custom Clubmakers, Mizuno, PinoyGolfer.com, Inquirer Golf, Omnisource International, A Round of Golf, Studio 23, Balls, and Dynamic Sports.(pr)