NZ ace foils Dabawenya in semis

Top seed and New Zealand champion Lydia Ko outshot and outplayed Dabawenya Chihiro Ikeda
in tough, cold condition and ran away with a 7&6 rout to reach the finals of the
New Zealand Women’s Amateur in Christchurch Monday.

Ko, who dominated the 72-hole stroke play tournament last week, remained on
track of a double championship as she dominated the Fil-Japanese bet in the
early going en route to victory.


The 14-year-old find, the world No. 3 in the ranks, will dispute the crown with
compatriot Cecilia Cho, who also routed Caryn Khoo, 5&4, in the other semifinal
match.

Ikeda, 18, struggled for form in 7 degrees Celsius condition with intermittent
rain and never recovered from a poor start, settling for joint third place
finish with Khoo.

“The conditions were tough and some holes have difficult pin placements that it
was hard to get your shots to stop next to them,” said Ikeda.

It was a sorry setback for the ICTSI-backed squad, which sent three players in
the quarterfinals with Jayvie Agojo and Lovelynn Guioguio bowing out and Ikeda
hurdling Julianne Alvarez, 4&3.PR

Davao's Ikeda rips foe, reaches semis

Dabawenya Chihiro Ikeda knocked off fourth seed Julianne Alvarez with an emphatic 4&3
victory to arrange a semifinal showdown with top seed Lydia Ko in the 2011 New
Zealand Women's Amateur Golf Championship Match Play in Christchurch, New
Zealand Sunday.
Ikeda, reaching peak form, gunned down two birdies and rescued pars twice at the
Russley Golf Club to dominate Alvarez in their morning showdown for a spot in
the Last 4 of the tournament featuring the leading players in the Asia-Pacific
region.
But the Fil-Japanese spearhead of the ICTSI golf squad will be facing the most
feared player in the fold, who foiled what could’ve been an all-Pinay semis with
a 4&2 romp over Lovelynn Guioguio.
Ikeda, however, hopes to use her experience against the talented 14-year-old Ko,
the reigning NZ amateur champion who topped the 72-hole stroke play competition
last week.
No. 6 Caryn Khoo, meanwhile, upset third seed Jayvie Agojo in the lower half of
the draw, outlasting the former Philippine Ladies Open champion on the 20th hole
to clinch the other semis berth.
Second seed Cecilia Cho held off Laura Hoskin, 2&1, to set up a clash with Cho
for the other finals seat.
It was a heartbreaking setback for Agojo, who had hoped to stay on track for a
golden double after teaming up with Sarah Ababa to win the NZ Foursomes crown
last week.
But the fifth-seed Ikeda, winner of this year’s Phl Ladies Amateur Open and the
Thailand Ladies Am titles, remains hopeful of her chances as she tries to
sustain her 7&6 romp over Grace Senior in the first round a 3&2 win over Kate
Chadwik in the last 16 phase.PR

Pinays barge into NZ match play quarters

Jayvie Agojo, Lovelynn Guioguio and Chihiro Ikeda each posted back-to-back victories Saturday to roll into the quarterfinal round of the match play event of the 2011 New Zealand Women's Amateur Golf Championship in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Agojo, seeking a followup to her victory in last week’s NZ Foursomes with ICTSI teammate Sarah Ababa, needed an extra hole to nip Hanna Seifert, 1-up, in the first round of the knockout phase then clobbered Jaime McIvor, 5&3, in the second round to make it to the Last 8.

Guioguio also edged Emily Eng, 1-up, in the morning match then dominated Saini Skudder, 5&4, in the afternoon to arrange a quarterfinal showdown with world No. 2 and stroke play champion Lydia Ko.

Ikeda, chasing another crown after winning the Philippine Ladies Amateur and the Southern Ladies Open crowns, routed Grace Senior, 7&6, in the first round then fashioned out a 3&2 romp over Kate Chadwik in the last 16 phase.

“After scoring two wins in the day, the girls are excited of their chances. They are in high spirits and oozing with confidence. I just hope they will sustain their form in the quarters,” said ICTSI team coach Bong Lopez.

The Fil-Japanese spearhead of the ICTSI golf squad will play Julianne Alvarez for a berth in the semifinal round of NZ’s premier amateur championship. Alvarez ripped Brianna Maynard, 4&3, then whipped Ceyln Khoo, 7&6, in the second round.

Agojo, who placed third in the stroke play event, battles Caryn Khoo in the lower bracket after the latter beat Jesse Hamilton, 3&2.

Ababa, however, fell by the wayside in the KO stage first round, dropping a close 1-up decision to Laura Hoskin, who went on to defeat Jess Guenzerodt, 1-up, to reach the quarters against second seed Cecilia Cho, who bundled out Imogen Donnelly, 6&5, and Emily Perry, 4&3, in their side of the duel.PR

Rancho Palos Verdes Golf and Country Club Monthly Medal Tournament results for April

Go to:
Complete Rancho Palos Verdes Golf and Country Club Monthly Medal Tournament results.

Agojo, Davao's Ababa cop NZ Foursomes crown

Jayvie Agojo (left) and Dabawenya Sarah Ababa hold their championship trophy after winning
the NZ Foursomes Championship.

Jayvie Agojo and Dabawenya Sarah Ababa pooled a 153 as Team Philippines-ICTSI ruled the
2011 New Zealand Foursomes Championship for the second straight year at the
Russley Golf Course in Christchurch, New Zealand last Tuesday.
Agojo, the former Phl Ladies Open champion, and Ababa, winner of last year’s
Malaysian Jr Open, bucked the cold weather and tough playing condition at the
par-74 layout as they combined for rounds of 76 and 77 to nip local bets
Julianne Alvarez and Barbara Parreno by one in the alternate shot format event.
“We just complemented each other’s game. When she was playing bad, I hit the
good shots and vice versa,” said Agojo after snapping a couple of heartbreaking
finishes in her comeback from a long layoff.
Alvarez and Parreno struggled in the first round with a 79 and fell short of
their bid with a 75, settling for second with a 154 while fellow Kiwis Emily
Perry and Chantelle Cassidy wound up third with a 155 after a 78-77.
Chihiro Ikeda and Lovelynn Guioguio, who romped away with last year’s crown at
the Napier Golf Club in Napier, NZ, groped for form with a pair of 81s and
hobbled in seventh place with a 162.
But Agojo and Ababa got the job done, combining for three birdies against five
bogeys to lead the 18-team field after 18 holes. They slowed down in the second
round with two birdies against five bogeys but made a couple of clutch pars in
the closing holes to hold off Alvarez and Parreno and retain the crown for the
ICTSI-backed squad.
“The course was tough and the greens were super fast. But they held on, making
two saved pars in the closing holes to clinch the win,” said ICTSI golf team
coach Bong Lopez.
The victory augured well for Team ICTSI’s campaign in NZ with Agojo, Sarah and
company going for another crown in the Stroke Play Championship slated April
20-22 before competing in the Match Play Championship on April 23-26, also at
the Russley layout.PR

Star: Jason credits Pinay mom, knows his day will come

This is one inspiring story, written by dante navarro:

http://www.philstar.com/SportsArticle.aspx?articleId=675447&publicationSubCategoryId=69&keyword=

2011 Rancho Palos Verdes Golf and Country Club Monthly Medal Tournament results for March

Click:

2011 Rancho Palos Verdes Golf and Country Club Monthly Medal Tournament results for March.

South African wins 75th Masters tournament

Simply amazing!
South African Charl Schwartzel birdied the last four holes and eagled hole number 3 to win the 75th Masters Tournament.
Charl became the 3rd professional from South Africa to win the Masters after Gary Player and Trevor Immelman.
Three-day tournament leader Rory McIlroy simply collapsed on the fourth day.

75th Masters final round: Will Rory protect his 4-stroke lead?

Rory McIlroy, the 21-year-old pride and joy of Northern Ireland, is paired with 41-year-old Angel Cabrera, the 2009 Masters champion.

Will Rory protect a four-stroke lead and win?

We'll see.

He tees off at 2:40 p.m.

Rory solo 1st after 13 holes

Rory solo at 1st with -10 after a birdie at 13th.

Former champion Angel Cabrera of Argentina trails with -8 along with three others.

Day, McIlroy tie going to 13th

Australian Jason Day and Irish Rory McIlroy tied for 1st with identical -9s going to the 13th hole in the 3rd round of the 75th Masters Tournament.

Defending champion Phil Mickelson finished with a one-under-par 71 for a three-day total 3-under 213.

Amateur Hideki Matsuyama of Japan is making waves improving to tied at No.20 with Mickelson with a 3-under total along with four others.

Tiger at 3rd after 36 holes

Tiger Woods sizzles with a 66, tied at 3rd after 36 holes and just 3 shots off the leader.

http://web.tigerwoods.com/onTour/eventDetail/?eid=X2011027&cid=16976006#tab[scorecard]

Rory on a 2-shot lead after Round 2

Rory finishes with a 3-under-par 69 for a two-day total 134, -10 over-all.

Trailing him is Jason Day with a -8. KJ Choi at 3rd with -7.

Defending champion Phil Mickelson is tied at 20th with an even round today for a 142 total, -2 over-all, well, 8 shots behind the leader.

Rory birdies 2nd hole for -8

The Masters Round 2

Rory McIlroy birdies 2nd hole for a -8. Working on hole number 4.

KJ Choi and Alvaro Quiros trail with -7.

Defending champion Phil Mickelson, struggling with his driver, trails with -2 after a bogey at hole 11.

Rory roars with seven-under-par 65, Phil is -1 after 9

Rory McIlroy wounds up with three straight pars after back-to-back birdies on 14th and 15th for a seven-under-par 65.

Defending champion Phil Mickelson is -1 after 9 holes.

Back-to-back birdies by Rory, Tiger even with a bogey at 10th

Back-to-back birdies by Rory McIlroy at holes 14 and 15!
Awesome!
-7 going to 16th hole.
Tiger Woods is even with a bogey at the 10th.

Rory's 6th birdie

Rory McIlroy guns down his 6th birdie at hole no.14 for a -6!
Wow!
Retief Goosen and Charl Schwartzel trail at second with a -4.

Phil tees off at 1:48 p.m., carries 2 drivers

Defending champion Phil Mickelson tees off at 1:48 p.m.

Flight mates are Geoff Ogilvy and amateur Peter Uihlein.

Let's try to notice what he will do with his two drivers.

75th Masters Tournament Round 1

After 12 holes, Rory McIlroy of N.Ireland leads first round with a -5.

Japan's Ryo Ishikawa is tied at 7th with a -2 after 11 holes.

Tiger Woods is -1 after 9 holes.

Amateur Hideki Matsuyama of Japan is -1 also after 4 holes.

This is exciting!

Que cruises to 3-shot win vs Sumcad

Angelo Que receives his championship trophy from Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. general manager Colo Ventosa after ruling the ICTSI Classic at Mt. Malarayat Golf and Country Club.

LIPA City – Angelo Que clipped amateur Zanie Boy Gialon with a near-flawless backside stint while thwarting Orlan Sumcad’s own title bid with a closing three-under 69 for a three-shot victory in the ICTSI Classic at the Mt. Malarayat Golf and Country Club here, Thursday.
Not even a final-hole bogey could stall Que from annexing his second local crown early in the season as he safely secured the win with a stirring run of four birdies in a seven-hole stretch at the back, foiling at least three rivals for the top P200,000 purse.
He wound up with a seven-under 209, adding the crown to his The Country Club Invitational triumph in January and further boosting his confidence as he sets out, along with the other top Phl golfers, for the rich Malaysian Open next week.
“I’m happy that I already won two titles this year, it’s good for my confidence,” said Que, who tumbled down with a so-so 36 after nine holes marred by a double-bogey mishap on the par-5 No. 4.
But the long-hitting shotmaker, also priming up for next month’s Philippine Open at Wack Wack, rebounded with a birdie on No. 10, added another pair at Nos. 13 and 14 before hitting another birdie oin No. 10 to virtually wrap the second leg crown of the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour.
But Que’s margin of victory didn’t reflect the pressure he had to endure from a slew of pursuers, including Sumcad, in a flight ahead of Que who actually took a three-shot lead with two birdies after four holes and after Que double-bogeyed the par-5 No. 4.
But Sumcad wavered with a bogey on No. 5 and a double-bogey on No. 8 and fell behind by one again at the turn. He reeled farther back by four in the face of Que’s birdie-binge at the back but eagled the par-5 17th to move within two only to blow his bid with a closing double-bogey.
He settled for a 71 and a 212 and pocketed his biggest paycheck to date worth P120,000 in the 54-hole event sponsored by ICTSI, organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. and and backed by by MJ Carr Golf Management, Inc., Srixon, Callaway and Dynamic Sports.
"I knew it would be useless with a par on the 18th so I played aggressive and went for a birdie but I ended up in the bunker," said Sumcad in Filipino. "I was really going for the win that's why I tried to go for it."
Little known Arnold Villacencio, one shot behind Que at the start of the final round, also grabbed the lead at the turn with a 34 but fumbled with four bogeys against two birdies at the back for a 38 and 72, ending up joint third with rookie pro and former Hong Kong Amateur champion Dante Becierra, who rallied with a70, at 213. Each got P57.500.
Frankie Minoza, also one shot behind after two rounds, failed to get his game going, turning in a roller coaster round of six birdies against seven bogeys for a 73, finishing in joint fifth with last year’s ICTSI Del Monte leg winner Cassius Casas, who had a 70, at 214. They halved the combined P75,000 prize.
Ranged against Que and co-leader Erwin Vinluan, Gialon held his own and even wrested a one-stroke lead with a 35 at the turn. But the top ICTSI-The Country Club bet cracked under pressure at the back, making three straight bogeys from No. 11 and dropping out of contention.
He ended up with a 75 for joint sixth with teen pro Miguel Tabuena, who rallied with a 71 for a 215 although Gialon ran away with the low amateur honors, beating ICTSI Royal Northwoods winner Jobim Carlos, who had a 73-218, but three. Tabuena won P30,000.
Reigning Phl Open champion Artemio Murakami also failed to contend for the crown, hobbling with a 74 for solo ninth at 216 worth P25,000 while Erwin Arcillas (71), Marvin Dumandan (72) and Ernie Rellon (74) shared ninth place at 217 worth P23,000 each.
Vinluan, who found himself vying for the crown for the very first time, failed to handle the pressure and skied to a 40 after nine holes, finishing with an 81 to drop to joint 19th with Randy Garalde, who made a 71, at 221.PR

Que, 2 others surge ahead in ICTSI Classic

MINOZA

QUE

BAYRON

LIPA – Angelo Que wielded a superb all-around game to shoot a four-under 68, moving in front of a crowded leaderboard that included an unfancied Erwin Vinluan and amateur Zanie Boy Gialon in the second round of the ICTSI Classic at the Mt. Malarayat Golf and Country Club in Batangas here, Wednesday.
Que, who salvaged an even par 72 in late afternoon Tuesday, rattled off four birdies in a flawless frontside stint, surging from joint 15th to a share of the lead at 140 heading into the last 18 holes of the P1 million championship, the second leg of a 12-stage circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.
The back-to-back The Country Club Invitational champion actually hit another birdie on No. 12 but yielded back the shot when he flubbed an eight-foot par-putt on the par-3 15th, enabling Vinluan and Gialon to catch up with him.
Vinluan produced the most explosive windup in another challenging day, birdying the last three holes at the back to fire a 69 and find himself on an unfamiliar place – with the big guns of the circuit.
The former member of the national team actually made an eagle on the reachable par-5 No. 9 but that feat only atoned for his double-bogey mishap on No. 3.
With a 140, Vinluan is assured of a crack at the top P200,000 purse and a minimum of P7,500, his earning in each of the four times that he made the cut in last year’s edition of the tour sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc. and backed by by MJ Carr Golf Management, Inc., Srixon, Callaway and Dynamic Sports.
Gialon, playing out of the ICTSI-TCC squad, made a big start at the back then recovered from a shaky stint midway through the round with two birdies in the last four holes at the front for another 69 and a 140.
Frankie Minoza, on a break from the US Seniors Tour, made his presence felt after a so-so 72 in the first round as he turned in a three-under 69 anchored on a fiery stint of three birdies at the back.
But he loomed large at 141, just one shot off the pace, and in a tie with Sumcad, who flourished in exacting playing condition Tuesday but could only shoot a 72 despite an early morning start yesterday.
The 37-year-old Sumcad even settled for a par on No. 9 which he earlier eagled and gunned down just two birdies to negate a pair of bogey mishaps on a course he calls home.
Unheralded Arnold Villacencio threatened to gatecrash the big guns party as he carded 70 to join the fancied Minoza and Sumcad in fourth.
Ferdie Aunzo, on a slump after winning the ICTSI Royal Northwoods title last year, matched Que’s 68 as he jumped from a share of 30th to joint eighth at 143, three strokes adrift and in a tie with Ernie Rellon, who fired a 69, and rookie pro Dante Becierra, who made a 71.
Teener Miguel Tabuena struggled with a 73 but remained in the hutn with an even 144 for a share of 11th with Cassius Casas, who had  a 70, and Gerald Rosales and Rufino Bayron, who both matched par 72s.
Juvic Pagunsan, winner of the kickoff leg at ICTSI Royal Northwoods last week, failed to recover from an atrocious 83 in the first round as he hobbled with a 77 for a 160, his worst two-day total in a checkered pro career.
Pagunsan, who is leaving on Monday to see action in the rich Malaysian Open, blamed his poor game to a swollen right thumb as he missed the cut for the first time in a long, long while.
"It hurts really bad but I dont want to make it an excuse," he said.PR

Sumcad shows up elite field with 69, leads by 1

ORLAN SUMCAD

Unfancied Orlan Sumcad outgunned the tour’s top guns in a windy day at the Mt. Malarayat Golf and Country Club, firing an eagle-spiked three-under par 69 and seizing a one-stroke lead over Marlon Dizon at the start of the ICTSI Classic in Lipa, Batangas, Tuesday.
Sumcad, one of the tour’s long hitters still in search of a breakthrough win, leaned on a fiery birdie-birdie-eagle binge from No. 7 to take control but missed posting a two-shot lead with a final hole bogey mishap.
“I hit the bunker on the 18th and failed to save par,” said Sumcad, a consistent Top 10 placer but never a winner on the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour, in Filipino.
Still, Sumcad’s 33-36 card was enough to propel him to the top of a star-studded field, majority of whom got knocked off by the dreaded Malarayat wind that bedeviled the games of even those who teed off early in the day.
That included Juvic Pagunsan, who was coming off a run of under-par scores to win the kickoff leg of the circuit at Royal Northwoods last Friday but who turned in a mind-boggling 11-over 83 in perhaps his worst start in any tournament.
Dizon also eagled the par-5 No. 9, his final hole, as he found himself in solo second with a two-under 70 while teener Miguel Tabuena led a six-player group that carded a 71.
“My goal going into this tournament is to just come out with an even par performance,” said Dizon, who has limited himself to playing in a maximum of five tournaments a year to focus on his family’s engineering business.
Tabuena turned an impending fold-up into a big surge as he birdied two of the last three holes at the front to be in the mix of players chasing the top P200,000 purse in the 54-hole tournament sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc. and organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.
Tony Lascuna, Elmer Saban, Erwin Vinluan, Arnold Villacencio and amateur Zanie Boy Gialon all had one-under par cards while Frankie Minoza and Angelo Que matched par 72s for a share of ninth, three strokes off the pace.
Other even par scorers wer Jun Bernis, brand new pro Dante Becierra, Omar Dungca, Gerald Rosales, Rufino Bayron and Jobim Carlos, winner of the low amateur honors at Northwoods.
Artemio Murakami, the reigning Philippine Open champion, and Marvin Dumandan, two of the players tipped to contend for this week’s crown, hobbled with a pair of 73s to fall into a tie with Richard Sinfuego, Juanito Pagunsan, Peter Villaber, Jhonnel Ababa, Danny Zarate and Cookie La’O.
Dutch Guido Van der Valk, who finished second to Elmer Salvador in the all-peso Phl Open here in 2009, also struggled with a 75, one shot behind the group Cassius Casas, Ramil Bisera, Ebarra Quiachon, Erwin Arcillas and Ernie Rellon, who all had 74s.
But the biggest casualty proved to be Juvic Pagunsan, who bogeyed the first six holes at the front in eerie fashion. He dropped another shot No. 8 then holed out with a birdie on the ninth.
That stood as his first and last birdie in the day as the veteran internationalist made another four-bogey string from No. 11 and dropped another shot on the 18th for a 42-41 card.
In contrast, Sumcad birdied the opening hole then bucked a bogey-bogey misfortune from No. 4 with a sizzling closing stint at the front that saw him birdie Nos. 7 and 8 before holing out with an eagle on the ninth.
He fumbled with another bogey on No. 11 but birdied two of the next three holes to take a two-shot lead over Dizon before dropping a shot on the 18th.PR

Coca-Cola, Apo Club organize Junior Golfers Clinic

Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines and the Apo Golf and Country Club officials will be putting a big smile on children starting April 4 when the Junior Golfers Clinic takes centerstage this month.

Young golfers who dream of becoming Davao City’s future stars will get the chance to learn from the professionals contracted by Apo Club officer-in-charge Pablito “Billy” Parilla.

Billy is no stranger to serving the public being a Rotarian himself, a Rotary Club governor, in fact.

Since he loves to play golf and being a member of the Apo club in good standing, he took the initiative of holding such a noble activity to give the youth, aged five to 17 years, a chance to learn properly a sport inwhich Dabawenyos can excel in the international stage.

The likes of Chihiro Ikeda, Sarah Ababa, Cassius and Renato Casas, Marvin Dumandan, Jay and Rufino Bayron, Tony Lascuna, Edgar Ababa, Ramil Bisera and Elmer Salvador, to name a few, are fine examples that golf as a sport perfectly fits a Dabawenyo.

Davao City is blessed with world-class and beautiful courses like Apo, the Rancho Palos Verdes Golf and Country Club, the short but manageable Davao City Golf Club, precisely the reason why we can produce topnotch golfers who are now competing in the Philippine and Asian circuits. I heard that another world-class golf course is being built in the city, which is another welcome development for followers of the game.

Coca-Cola will not only get another advertising pitch this summer but for sure, they will be best remembered by the young participants and their parents.

The Board of Directors of Apo, if possible, must make this an annual event, an activity that young and aspiring golfers would always look forward to every summer.

I hope this will not be the last, Billy, because Coca-Cola, for sure, will be happy to invest in the development of young golfers.

50 kids sign up for Apo jungolf clinic

A TOTAL of 50 jungolfers in Davao City have signed up for the Apo Golf and Country Club summer clinic which fires off today.

Apo Golf and Country Club officer-in-charge Billy Parilla said the youngsters with ages from five to 17 will be handled by some 22 professional golfers from Davao starting at 8 a.m. today.

The clinic, which ends with a tournament for the participants on April 30, is a project of the Apo Golf and Country Club Board of Diretors.

Throwing their full support to the summer junglfer clinic are Powerade, Phoenix Petroleum, Atty. Butch Jocum and director Jun Serado.

The activity is part of the Apo Golf and Country Club's grassroots development program in search for future golfers who will represent the city in various competitions.

Parilla said they will also cater to guest jungolfers or those who are not members of the club, although they will charge them with registration fees.

Handling the clinic will be the likes of Elmer Salvador, Ramil Bisera and Edgar Ababa. The clinic will be held every Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays and will end on April 24. (CRAM)

Published in the Sun.Star Davao newspaper on April 04, 2011.

Juvic seeks win No. 2 as ICTSI Classic reels off

Bacolod's Juvic Pagunsan, fresh from his two-shot victory over Davao's Jay Bayron at Northwoods last week, hopes to make it two-in-row in the early going of the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour as he heads the cast in the ICTSI Classic at the Mt. Malarayat Golf and Country Club on Tuesday, April 5.

Unlike in the ICTSI Northwoods, however, the 32-year-old Pagunsan will be taking on a strong field that includes back-to-back The Country Club champion Angelo Que, veteran Frankie Minoza, youthful Miguel Tabuena, Dutch Guido Van Der Valk and Canadian Rick Gibson.

The five are among the 105-player cast, including 14 amateurs, chasing the top P200,000 purse in the 54-hole tournament serving as the second leg of the 12-stage circuit put up by the International Container Terminal Services, Inc. and organized Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

But this one stands out among the rest, in terms of participation and prestige, with Minoza even taking a break from his US Seniors Tour campaign to be with the local aces and Que and Tabuena giving up their slots in the Panasonic Open of the Asian Tour, also slated this week in India, to join the title hunt here after missing the kickoff leg at Northwoods.

Van Der Valk and Gibson, meanwhile, provide the international challenge with the former out to atone for his failed bid in the 2009 Philippine Open at Mt. Malarayat and the latter renewing his ties with the local players.

But Pagunsan goes all out to frustrate all of them, including the likes of Tony Lascuna, Artemio Murakami, Marvin Dumandan and Bayron, as he tries to take full advantage of his early morning tee off at 7 a.m. in the company of Ruben Sasutil and Elmer Saban.

Bayron also seeks to come out with a strong start with a favorable starting time at 7:20 a.m. with reigning national amateur champion Clyde Mondilla and Gibson.

The 16-year-old Tabuena, in his first pro tournament on the local turf after debuting in the SAIL Open of the Asian Tour in India two weeks ago, also hopes to make the most of early tee-off at 7:20 a.m. on No. 10 against Antonio Asistio II and amateur Richard Joson.

The rest of the fancied bets have drawn late tee-offs when the dreaded Malarayat winds are likely to baffle their respective games although Que will have also to contend with Murakami and top amateur Jobim Carlos in the 11:40 a.m. group on No. 10.

Dumandan, winner of three legs last year, is paired with Van Der Valk and amateur Art Arbole in the 11:40 a.m. flight on No. 10 while Minoza will play alongside Michael Bibat and Solomon Gines at 12:30 p.m. on No. 1.

The other top guns competing in the event, backed by MJ Carr Golf Management, Inc., Srixon, Callaway, Dynamic Sports, are former national champion Mhark Fernando, Jhonnel Ababa, Gene Bondoc, Cassius Casas, rookie pro Carl Santos-Ocampo, Gerald Rosales, Benjie Magada, Ferdie Aunzo, Jun Bernis, Rufino Bayron and Anthony Fernando.PR

Pagunsan holds off Davao's Bayron, wins by 2

Bacolod's Juvic Pagunsan got back at Davao's Jay Bayron in scrambling fashion, matching the reigning Order of Merit winner’s birdie-par finish to annex a two-shot victory with a closing three-under 69 in the ICTSI Royal Northwoods Championship at the Royal Northwoods Golf and Country Club in San Rafael, Bulacan, Friday.

Pagunsan nearly lost a five-stroke lead in the last four holes as he lost his touch but the veteran internationalist checked his skid in time to repulse the charging Bayron and pocket the crown worth P200,000 with an 11-under 205 aggregate.

“I tried to apply the pressure in the early going since he also had a good start,” said the 32-year-old Pagunsan, who rattled off four birdies in a fiery shootout with Bayron in the frontside, in Filipino.

Bayron, who ran out of holes and settled for a 70 and a 207, also made four birdies at the front but dropped a shot on No. 4 and made the turn at 33 to fall two strokes behind.

Pagunsan, who lost the OOM crown in last year’s ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour after Bayron topped the final leg in Canlubang, sustained his charge at the back with birdies on Nos. 10 and 12 and moved ahead by five despite a bogey on the par-5 No. 13, which Bayron double-bogeyed.

But just when he thought he had the crown in the bag, Pagunsan, winner of the ICTSI-Apo and ICTSI-Riviera legs last year, stumbled with a bogey on No. 15, another par-5 hole, and then dropped another shot on the next.

That enabled Bayron, who also won the all-star Aboitiz Invitational in Cebu, to close within two as he birdied No. 15 for a two-shot swing and then parred the next from eight feet.

But Pagunsan quashed Bayron’s hopes by matching his rival’s birdie on the 17th and then holed out with a routine par to wrap up the crown in the P1 million event, the kickoff leg of a 12-stage circuit sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc. and organized by Pilipinas Golf Tour, Inc.

The win should make Pagunsan the top favorite in next week’s second leg at Mt. Malarayat where Angelo Que and teen sensation Miguel Tabuena are tipped to join the title hunt after skipping the Northwoods stage for various reasons.

“It’s really tough playing Juvic in the final round, especially if he’s ahead,” said Bayron, who took home P120,000, in Filipino. “But I’m happy with my performance.”

But the rest shouldn’t be as Mhark Fernando, the former national champion, finished six strokes behind Pagunsan at 211 despite a 70 for third. He won P65,000.

Gene Bondoc also wound up with a 70 to force a five-way tie for fourth at 212, including Anthony Fernando, who lost his way in the face of Pagunsan and Bayron’s torrid shootout in the championship flight, and limped with a 74.

Other 212 scorers were Cassius Casas, who had a 73, while rookie pro Carl Santos-Ocampo, who bounced into contention with 67 in the second round, also had a 73.

Jobim Carlos, the ace amateur who matched Pagunsan’s 66 in the first round, turned in a 71 to join the four pros at 212 while running away with the low amateur honors in the event backed by MJ Carr Golf Management, Inc., Srixon, Callaway, Dynamic Sports, Omnisource International, Unilab, Mizuno, Titleist.

Elmer Salvador, the former Phl Open champion and winner of the 2009 OOM crown, placed solo ninth at 213 after a 71, while Gerald Rosales, another former Phl Open winner, and Arnold Villacencio, who rallied with a 69, shared 10th place at 214.PR