Focus on Juvic as ICTSI Negros Classic unfolds

The ICTSI Negros Occidental Classic unwraps on Wednesday, July 13
with homegrown bet Juvic Pagunsan looming large in the P1 million event at the
Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club here but facing an army of challengers
out to stop his domination of the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour.
Pagunsan, who has racked up three victories in the first four legs of the
circuit and came in second to Thai Thanyakon Khrongpa in the ICTSI-Mt. Malarayat
Classic of the ASEAN PGA Tour last month, is again tipped to lead the chase for
the top P200,000 purse owing to his form and familiarity with the layout where
he reigned as the national amateur champion in 2005.
He skipped Tuesday’s traditional pro-am ruled by Anthony Fernando and amateur
partners Tess Mendell, Pinky Silva and Lynlee Rizzon, who combined for 52, and
opted to take a much needed rest instead after settling for joint 11th place
finish in the ASEAN PGA Tour leg in Malaysia last Sunday which he co-led in the
second round.
But Pagunsan drew an early morning tee-time at 7:30 a.m. on No. 1 with Jun
Bernis and amateur Chepe Dulay and is fancied to lead the attack on the par-70,
6197-yard layout that is short by the field’s standard especially in the absence
of the wind.
With the long game virtually eliminated in a field littered with long hitters,
emphasis will be on the iron game and putting with torrid scoring seen among the
fancied men on the tour.
Tony Lascuna, who emerged as the top Filipino finisher in Malaysia last week at
eighth place, predicts a winning 9-under card in the 54-hole tournament.
“I think 9- or 10-under will win here,” said Lascuna, who is coming into this
sixth leg of the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour in top shape and oozing with
confidence.
“We haven’t played here for a long time, so it’s quite unfamiliar to us. But
it’s relatively short, so emphasis would be on iron game and putting and anybody
can win here,” added Lascuna, who last won in 2007 in the Selangor Masters but
has two third place finish on the local circuit this season.

Lascuna took a late tee-time at 11:20 a.m. on No. 10 in the company of Danilo
delos Santos and amateur Brent Sumampong but is also expected to figure in early
pursuit of the lead along with the other big guns of the circuit organized by
Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.
They include Ferdie Aunzo, who won here in the 2008 Philippine Amateurs and is
in the first flight at 7 a.m. with Joel Opaco and Robert Malaga, the
long-hitting Artemio Murakami who is booked in the 11:10 a.m. flight on No. 1
with Rodulfo Aldimer and Peter Minoza, and Mars Pucay, Cassius Casas, Marvin
Dumandan, Ferdie Aunzo, Jun Bernis, Rufino Bayron, Jerson Balasabas and the two
other local talents in Robert Pactolerin and Rodrigo Cuello.
“It’s not actually an easy course since the greens are tough but given the
caliber of the field, a three-under card each round could win it,” said
Pactolerin.
The NOGCC is actually hosting a tournament of the local circuit for the first
time since 2002 when Angelo Que nipped Cesar Ababa by one with a closing
four-under 66 in the now defunct First Gentleman Golf Circuit.

Que and Ababa, however, won’t be around this week, but Elmer Salvador and
Richard Sinfuego, who finished joint third in 2002, are in the fold along with
Mars Pucay, Cassius Casas, Marvin Dumandan, Ferdie Aunzo, Jun Bernis, Rufino
Bayron, Jerson Balasabas and another local talent in Rodrigo Cuello.
“I can’t remember anything on this course although I know you have to hit it
straight here and play a superb short game to score here,” said Salvador in
Filipino. The Order of Merit champion in the inaugural staging of the
ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour in 2009 is also coming off a joint 20th place finish
with Murakami in Malaysia.
Meanwhile, the big-hitting Orlan Sumcad and teammates Isidro Villarosa, Ivan
Villarosa and Jason Villarosa, also made a 52 but lost in the countback and
settled for second in the pro-am while Aunzo and partners Chole Ramos, Boy
Gamboa and Angel Garriel took third place with 53.
The event, the seventh leg of the 17-stage circuit, is backed by MJ Carr Golf
Management, Inc., Srixon, Callaway, Unilab, BDO, Titleist, Sharp, Custom
Clubmakers, Mizuno, PinoyGolfer.com, Inquirer Golf, Omnisource International, A
Round of Golf, Studio 23, Balls, and Dynamic Sports.(pr)