Juvic Pagunsan begins his chase for a record third straight leg crown on the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour but a host of ace shotmakers will also be in pursuit of the ICTSI Apo Golf Invitational crown in what promises to be a wide-open battle in the P1 million event starting Wednesday, Aug. 10, at the Apo Golf and Country Club.
Unlike in the last two Apo legs which he dominated, Pagunsan braces for a tougher challenge this week with the likes of Angelo Que, Frankie Minoza and Miguel Tabuena joining the star-studded roster that includes homegrown bets Jay Bayron, Tony Lascuna, Ferdie Aunzo, Marvin Dumandan. Elmer Salvador, Cassius Casas and Jhonnel Ababa, winner of the last leg at ICTSI-Iloilo.
Robert Pactolerin, who ended a long title-drought by beating Lascuna on the fourth playoff hole in Bacolod, launched his title bid with a win in Tuesday’s pro-am as he powered his team composed of Agustino Docdocil, Lor Alaan and King Rivas to victory with a 51.
Mhark Fernando and partners Andrew Bautista, Ronnie Magsico and Oscar Garcia came in second with 53 while unheralded Randy Geralde led his team of Bong Cabang, Jun Singson and Benjie Leparto to third place with a 55.
Que, Minoza and Tabuena have skipped the last four legs of the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. to campaign abroad and are all expected to figure in the fight for the top P200,000 purse on a tough course that requires accuracy and mental toughness.
“The fairways and greens are hard, but the key here would be on putting. I think a seven-under total will win,” said Dumandan, the winningest player last season with three victories but remains winless this year, in Filipino.
“We really have to step up, defend our turf and stop Juvic,” said Casas, who last won in ICTSI Del Monte last year, in Filipino. “But it won’t be easy, Apo is a tough course, it requires a solid all-around game to score here.”
That should make the first round worth watching with Pagunsan tipped to launch his three-peat bid the way he did in stringing back-to-back victories here the past two years.
The smooth-swinging Pagunsan used a near-flawless six-under par 66 in the first round to dominate the field and post a six-shot romp over Artemio Murakami and Jerome Delariarte in 2009 then scored a four-stroke win over Aunzo and Elmer Saban to become the first back-to-back leg winner on the three-year-old tour sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, inc.
Pagunsan, the current Order of Merit leader, is actually gunning for his fourth leg victory this year after reigning at Royal Northwoods, Orchard and Eastridge and is out to redeem himself from a final round meltdown at ICTSI Negros Occidental Classic last month.
Focus will also be on Que, who posted a runaway victory in the second leg at ICTSI-Mt. Malarayat but has opted to rest and campaign abroad after a so-so finish at ICTSI-Orchard Invitational, and Minoza, who last saw action at ICTSI-Orchard where he turned in a fourth place finish before resuming his campaign on the US Seniors Tour.
Tabuena is also raring to atone for a series of mediocre finishes abroad with the 16-year-old find hoping to come out strong early, build momentum and earn a crack at the crown in the 54-hole tournament, the eighth leg of the 16-stage circuit.
Pactolerin, who missed the cut in Iloilo, and Ababa, who nipped Jay Bayron in the first sudden death hole in Iloilo, are chasing their own dream of winning a second leg crown along with Rufino Bayron, Mhark Fernando, Anthony Fernando, Mars Pucay, Rey Pagunsan, Jerson Balasabas and Murakami.
The event is backed b 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.(pr)
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