Juvic eyes No. 3 at ICTSI Eastridge Classic

In-form Juvic Pagunsan goes for his third victory in four starts on the
ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour as he leads the field in the P1 million ICTSI
Eastridge Classic which begins June 1 at the Eastridge Golf Club in Binangonan,
Rizal.
Pagunsan closed out with record nine-under par 63 at The Orchard’s Palmer Course
to win by five over Elmer Salvador in ICTSI Orchard Golf Championship two weeks
ago, his second title romp after scoring an equally convincing victory in the
circuit’s kickoff leg at Royal Northwoods last March.
The win in the P2.5 million event, the richest leg so far in the four-year
circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc., netted Pagunsan P450,000,
hiking his earnings to P650,000 for the Order of Merit lead in the early going
of this year’s 16-leg circuit.
Salvador is in second with P345,000 earnings while Tony Lascuna posted winnings
of P249,000 followed by Orlan Sumcad (P246,000), Angelo Que (P235,500), Frankie
Minoza (P187,500), Jay Bayron (P169,250), Gerald Rosales (P128,500), Anthony
Fernando (P122,500) and Jhonnel Ababa (P117,500) in that order.
But this week’s battle for the top P200,000 is expected to be tight with the
par-71 Eastridge layout, hosting a PGT leg for the first time, posing a
different kind of the challenge for the touring pros and amateurs alike.
Situated on a long stretch of mountain ridges, rolling hills and ravines,
Eastridge is tipped to test not only the field’s shotmaking skills and talent
but also their mental toughness especially in the presence of the wind.
The leading contenders get their chance to test the course in the traditional
pro-am tournament on May 31 which features officials and guests of the
sponsoring International Container Terminal Services, Inc., the PGTI and 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
Meanwhile, the fifth leg will be held at Tagaytay Midlands, another first-time
host, on June 22-24 for the ICTSI Midlands Challenge.
In between on June 15-18, the local men of the tournament will again compete
with the leading players in the region in the ICTSI Mt. Malarayat Championship
at Mt. Malarayat in Lipa, Batangas.
The other legs of the ICTSI-PGT will be held in Bacolod (July 13-15), Iloilo
(July 20-22), Cebu (Aug. 3-5), Apo in Davao (Aug. 17-19), Del Monte in Bukidnon
(Aug. 24-26), Eagle Ridge or Riviera (Sept. 14-16), Mimosa (Oct. 19-21), Manila
Southwoods (Oct. 26-28), Canlubang (Nov. 9-11), Wack Wack (Nov. 13-15) and Sta.
Elena.PR