Dabawenyo joins hunt at ICTSI Iloilo Classic

Davao's Jay Bayron resumes his campaign on the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour as he leads
the compact field vying for top honors in the P1 million ICTSI Iloilo Golf
Challenge firing off Wednesday, July 20 at the Iloilo Golf and
Country Club in Sta. Barbara, Iloilo.
Bayron, the reigning Order of Merit champion, is out to make up for a missed cut
stint in last week’s One Asia Tour in Indonesia with a solid finish this week
with majority of the top guns in Malaysia competing in the Selangor Masters.
The long-hitting Davaoeno shotmaker remains winless after six legs of the local
circuit, placing second to current OOM pacesetter Juvic Pagunsan at Royal
Northwoods and turning in so-so finishes at Mt. Malarayat and Orchard before
salvaging sixth place at ICTSI Mt. Malarayat Classic of the ASEAN PGA Tour.
But without Pagunsan, Tony Lascuna, Mars Pucay and Angelo Que, the defending
champion at Selangor Masters, Bayron is expected to contend for the top P200,000
purse in the 54-hole event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. and
sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc.
Still, Bayron will be facing a formidable cast that includes last week’s Bacolod
leg winner Robert Pactolerin, Marvin Dumandan, young turks Mhark Fernando,
Jhonnel Ababa, Jerson Balasabas, Anthony Fernando and local bet Richard
Sinfuego.
Meanwhile, the leading pros get the chance to test the course in the pro-am
tournament today (Tuesday) where they are paired with guests and officials of
the tournament backed by MJ Carr Golf Management, Inc., Srixon, Callaway,
Unilab, BDO, Titleist, Sharp, Custom Clubmakers, Mizuno, Empire Golf & Sports
Shop, PinoyGolfer.com, Inquirer Golf, Omnisource International, A Round of Golf,
Studio 23, Balls, and Dynamic Sports.
While Bayron looms as the top favorite, Pactolerin is out to score a rare
back-to-back feat after he snapped a two-year title drought with a tough victory
in Bacolod where he had to fight back from four stroke down in the final round
and outlast Lascuna in a grueling four-hole playoff.
Dumandan, the winningest player last year with three victories, also hopes to
settle down with his game and vie for the crown after a shaky campaign in the
early going of the circuit with only a runner-up finish to Pagunsan at ICTSI
Eastridge to show so far.
But focus will also be on Sinfuego, who is expected to flash his familiarity
with the quaint par-70 layout and end a long title slump in the four-year old
circuit.(pr)