The ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour kicks off another year-long circuit over the country’s top championship courses beginning Wednesday, March 30 with the fancied pros and rising stars slugging it out in the P1 million ICTSI Royal Northwoods Championship at the Royal Northwoods Golf and Country Club in San Rafael, Bulacan.
Davao's Marvin Dumandan, who nipped fellow Dabawenyo Tony Lascuna in a two-hole playoff to win the Northwoods crown last year, braces for another tight finish in the 54-hole tournament, which drew an elite cast that includes reigning Philippine Open champion Artemio Murakami, former Phl Open winner Elmer Salvador, Asian Tour campaigner Juvic Pagunsan and reigning Order of Merit champion Jay Bayron.
“I like my (title) chances this week. I’ve been hitting it well and with the right breaks, I think I have a good chance,” said Dumandan, who hopes to match or better his three-leg win last year, in Filipino.
But the power-hitting Davaoeno, who also won at Sherwood and Mimosa and finished second to Angelo Que in the recent The Country Club Invitational, faces a formidable challenge from the rest of the 84-player starting field all primed up for the top P200,000 purse.
The winner will also gain the confidence and momentum heading to next week’s second leg of the circuit sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc. and organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. at Mt. Malarayat in Lipa, Batangas.
The event also marks the pro debut of former ICTSI-The Country Club mainstays Peter Villaber, Dante Becierra, Charles Hong, Erwin Madrileño and Fil-Am Carl Santos-Ocampo and ICTSI-Cangolf bet Jerson Balasabas.
Other backers of this year’s circuit are MJ Carr Golf Management, Inc., Srixon, Callaway, Dynamic Sports, Omnisource International, Unilab, Mizuno, Titleist. For details on sponsorship, contact Colo Ventosa at 632(908-8842535 or ICTSI at (632)241-9661 or fax (632)2478002 or email golf@ictsi.com or colo@pgt.ph.
Also in the fold are former amateur hotshots Mhark Fernando and Jhonnel Ababa, Antonio Asistio II, Rufino Bayron, Jun Bernis, Michael Bibat, Cassius Casas, Rodrigo Cuello, Anthony Fernando, Cookie La’O, Benjie Magada, Robert Pactolerin, Rey Pagunsan, Gerald Rosales, Richard Sinfuego, Orlan Sumcad, Carito Villaroman, Erwin Vinluan, Danny Zarate and 2009 winner Ferdie Aunzo.
Also seeing action are the country’s leading amateurs, headed by reigning national champion Clyde Mondilla, Jobim Carlos, Sonny Villaber, Zanie Boy Gialon and Art Arbole, who are honing up for the Philippine Amateurs slated April 12-15 at The Riviera in Silang, Cavite.
After the ICTSI Classic at Mt. Malarayat on April 6-8, action shifts to the Orchard in Dasmarinas, Cavite for the third leg on May 18-20 followed by the ICTSI Eastridge Classic at Eastridge in Binangonan on June 1-3.
The ICTSI Mt. Malarayat Championship, also a regular leg on the ASEAN Tour, will be the circuit’s fifth leg on June 15-18 followed by the ICTSI Midlands Classic on June 29-July 1.
Action goes to the Visayas on July 13-15 for the ICTSI Invitational at the Iloilo Golf and Country Club in Santa Barbara while Bacolod will stage the next leg on July 20-22 for another ICTSI Invitational tournament.
After a successful hosting last year, Cebu Country Club will again host the Aboitiz Invitational on Aug. 3-5 before the tour goes farther down south for the ICTSI Del Monte Championship on Aug. 24-26 at the Del Monte Golf Club.
Wack Wack, venue of this year’s Philippine Open, will host the penultimate leg in October while Canlubang will again be the tour’s final stop on Nov. 9-11 for the ICTSI Canlubang Golf Invitational.PR
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