Davao's Salvador sizzles with eagle-aided 65, leads by 3

Davao's Elmer Salvador fired an eagle-spiked seven-under 65 and

surged ahead by three over Tony Lascuna, moving closer to ending a year-long

title drought and bagging the richest pot ever staked on the ICTSI-Philippine

Golf Tour in Dasmarinas, Cavite.

Salvador hit a wedge shot from 77 yards out that bounced once onto the 11th

green and rolled into the cup for that eagle then strung up three straight

birdies from No. 14 to highlight a stirring, flawless round of 34-31 under

overcast skies.

Counting his earlier 69 fashioned out early Wednesday, the reticent Davaoeno

shotmaker took control of the ICTSI Orchard Golf Championship with a resounding

10-under 134, lining himself up for a first victory since winning the Mt.

Malarayat leg of last year’s circuit in Batangas.

“It’s been a long time since I last won, I just hope this could be it,” said

Salvador in Filipino, seeking to become the first winner of the whopping

P450,000 top purse in the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

Lascuna, who lost the crown here last year to Benjie Magada in a two-hole

playoff, primed up for another shot at the title as he likewise turned in a

bogey-free round of five-under 67 to assume the challenger’s role at 137, three

strokes adrift.

Juvic Pagunsan, who led after the morning session with a second straight 69,

settled for third at 138 and will join Salvador and Lascuna in the championship

flight today.

“They are both good, solid players, I think I need to shoot a 69 to win it,”

said Salvador, who placed joint 33rd in last week’s ICTSI Philippine Open at

Wack Wack.

Richard Sinfuego, another player seeking to end a long slump, also shot a 69 for

a 139 while Anthony Fernando and Antonio Asistio II also carded identical 69s to

lead the 140 group that includes first round co-leader Frankie Minoza and

amateur Zanie Boy Gialon.

Minoza, one of the four players who shot a 68 Wednesday, struggled in the early

going, bogeying two of the first three holes and went three-over after 11. He,

however, rebounded with two birdies in the last four holes to salvage a 72.

Gialon, playing out of the ICTSI-The Country Club, fired a 70 and zeroed in on

the low amateur honors in the 54-hole tournament backed by MJ Carr Golf

Management, Inc., Srixon, Callaway, Unilab, Titleist, Custom Clubmakers, Mizuno,

PinoyGolfer.com, Inquirer Golf, A Round of Golf, Studio 23, Balls, and Dynamic

Sports.

Orlan Sumcad and Gene Bondoc were at 141 after a 71 and 70, respectively.

Jhonnel Ababa and Ferdie Aunzo, who also opened with a pair of 68s, hobbled with

a 74 and 76 and slid to 142 and 144, respectively, while early favorites Angelo

Que shot a 69 to tie Ababa, Artemio Murakami (70), Michael Bibat (70), Joenard

Rates (71) and Gerald Rosales (72) while Jay Bayron, runner-up in last week’s

Phl Open, hardly moved with a 71 for a 143.



Longshot Al Cruz actually tied Pagunsan, Elmer Salvador and Albin Engino with a

late 69 in the first round but fumbled with five bogeys against two birdies

yesterday and limped with a 75 to join Bayron at 143 along with Miguel Tabuena

(72).[PR]