Flawless Salvador sizzles with 67, pulls away by 4

TRECE MARTIRES, Cavite – Dabawenyo Elmer Salvador blitzed the Sherwood Hills layout with another bogey-free round – a five-under 67 – as he threatened to blow the field in the P1 million ICTSI Sherwood Hills Classic with a four-stroke lead over townmate Cassius Casas here Friday.
Sustaining the form he showed in shooting a lead-tying 68 in the first round, Salvador outgunned veteran Asian Tour campaigner and erstwhile joint leader Mars Pucay with three birdies at the front then added two more coming home to become the first player in recent memory to preserve a bogey-free stint throughout 36 holes.
“I’ve been hitting the ball quite well these days,” said Salvador, who gained so much confidence following his runner-up finish to Indian Himmat Rai in the Singapore Classic of the Asian Tour last month where he lost in a thrilling six-hole playoff.
But what motivates the reticent Davaoeno shotmaker most is his desire to end a long title drought in the ICTSI revival of the pro tour he dominated in 2009 when he emerged the Order of Merit champion.
“I actually can’t remember when was the last time I won. It’s been a long time,” added Salvador, whose nine-under 135 aggregate put him way ahead of Casas and 18 holes away from scoring his first victory since topping the kick off leg of last year’s circuit at Mt. Malarayat.
Casas, who snatched the ICTSI Del Monte crown from Salvador last year after the latter and two others were disqualified on a final-hole infraction, birdied three of his last 11 holes in scorching heat to shoot that 69 and assume the challenger’s role at 139.
His hunger for title also makes Casas a serious threat in today’s final round of the 54-hole event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.
“My confidence is very high and I’ll do everything to win again,” said Casas.
While the other frontrunners stumbled with over par scores and tumbled down the leaderboard, one player who struggled in the first round bounced back with an impressive card to fuel his own title bid in the tournament sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc.
Artemio Murakami, virtually written off with a so-so 75 in the first round, fought back with a 66 as he tamed the backside of the wind-raked Sherwood with a five-under 31, capped by a four-birdie windup. He then eagled the par-5 eighth to negate his final hole bogey at No. 9 for a 141 for third, six strokes adrift.
Pucay, who matched Salvador’s opening 68 to force a four-way tie for the lead with Gene Bondoc and Tony Lascuna Thursday, lost his way in the face of Salvador’s awesome form, fumbling with four bogeys against two birdies for a 74 and a 142.
Lascuna came in ruffled by the wind in one of the late afternoon flights and hobbled with a 75, dropping to solo fifth at 143 while Bondoc also fell by the wayside with a four-over 76, slipping to joint sixth with Michael Bibat, who shot a 69, and Danny Zarate, who carded a 74.
Pooling similar 145s were Richard Sinfuego (71), Elmer Saban and Arnold Villacencio, who both had 75s.
ICTSI Del Monte leg winner Mhark Fernando carded a 73 and stood 10 strokes off Salvador at 148 in the company of Anthony Fernando, who matched par 72, and ICTSI Bacolod leg winner Robert Pactolerin, who had a 74, while two-leg winner Jhonnel Ababa, who reigned in Iloilo and Riviera, limped home with a 75 and fell to 149.
The 12th leg of the 16-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)

Ababa seeks 3rd ICTSI win at Sherwood

In-form Dabawenyo Jhonnel Ababa gears up for another crack at the crown on the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour as he heads the pack in the P1 million ICTSI Sherwood Hills Golf Classic slated Sept. 28-30 at the Sherwood Hills Golf Club.
The tough, windy par-72 course in Trece Martires, Cavite poses almost the same challenge as that of Riviera’s layout where Ababa booked her second leg victory by rallying from seven strokes down to frustrate Jay Bayron and nip Cassius Casas by one.
But Ababa, the former amateur hotshot who scored his maiden win on the tour with a playoff victory over Bayron in the ICTSI Iloilo Golf Challenge last July, will have a tougher set of rivals next week with the return to action by the likes of Asian Tour campaigners Tony Lascuna, Artemio Murakami, Gerald Rosales and Elmer Salvador.
Also in the 70-player roster is a hungry bunch of players hoping to finally hit paydirt in the 12th leg of the 16-stage tour sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc. and organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments. Inc. They include Antonio Asistio II, Jerson Balasabas, Jun Bernis, Rufino Bayron, Dante Becierra, Michael Bibat, Gene Bondoc, Jerome Delariarte, Anthony Fernando, Charles Hong, Randy Garalde, Elmer Saban, Rey Pagunsan, Erwin Vinluan and Arnold Villacencio.
Also in the fold are leg champions Mhark Fernando (ICTSI Del Monte), Robert Pactolerin (ICTSI Negros Occidental) and Jay Bayron (Aboitiz Invitational) and former winners Ferdie Aunzo, Danny Zarate, Benjie Magada and Marvin Dumandan.
Meanwhile, Ababa remained in fifth place in the Order of Merit ranking but his recent victory hiked his earnings to P761,456, moving him within Lascuna, who has P764,219.
Juvic Pagunsan stayed way out in front with P1,474,604 on four victories while Bayron, the reigning OOM champion, is in second with P933,994 earnings. Salvador, the first OOM winner in 2009, remains in third with P812,019, making the last five legs crucial for the OOM title contenders with Pagunsan out for the rest of the season.
Meanwhie, Villamor Golf Club will host a leg in the circuit for the first time in three years on Oct. 19-21 for the 13th leg. The tour will also make its first stop at Calatagan Golf Club in Batangas for the ICTSI Calatagan Challenge on Oct. 26-28 before Canlubang hosts the penultimate leg on Nov. 9-11 with the ICTSI Canlubang Golf Invitational. The tour winds up with the ICTSI Wack Wack Championship at Wack Wack, which is also hosting a leg for the first time on Nov. 23-25.
The 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)

Davao's Ababa snatches win as Bayron cracks

SILANG, Cavite - Davao's Jhonnel Ababa rallied from seven strokes down and nipped townmate Cassius Casas by one with a closing one-under 70 for the ICTSI Riviera Classic crown as erstwhile leader Jay Bayron, another Dabawenyo, collapsed with an 81 at Riviera's Langer course here, Friday.
Ababa came through with three birdies in the last 11 holes in second-to-last flight to fuel his title bid then watched Bayron throw away strokes in the last six holes to snatch the crown, his second in the last five legs of the circuit. He wound up with a 217, four-over at the wind-raked, hazard-laden par-71 layout.
But it proved enough to secure a follow-up to his victory in the ICTSI Iloilo Golf Challenge at Sta. Barbara last July where he also fought back from five strokes down to beat Bayron in a playoff for his maiden win on the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc.
"I was just lucky and Jay had a bad game," said Ababa, who banked another P200,000 from the total prize fund of P1 million in the 11th leg of the 16-stage tour sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc.
Bayron, who appeared headed for another romp after storming to a five-shot lead over Rey Pagunsan and seven over Ababa with 18 holes to play, bogeyed the first three holes in windy condition, made another three-string bogey from No. 5 before dropping two strokes on No. 9 against a lone birdie on No. 8 for a horrible 42.
He birdied No. 10 but made four bogeys in the last six holes for that nine-over 81 in a bizarre fold-up from a player who routed the field at Aboitiz Invitational presented by ICTSI with a startling five-under 30 at the backside of Cebu Country Club three weeks ago.
"I had a tough day out there. The wind was so strong from the start," rued Bayron, whose championship flightmates Pagunsan and Anthony Fernando also turned in over-par rounds of 77 and 73, respectively.
Casas, who shared the first-round lead with Antonio Asistio II but reeled back with a 77 in the second round, three-putted No. 17 and missed forcing a playoff with Ababa. He also shot a 70 but fell short by one with a 218 worth P120,000.
"If not for my 77 in the second round, I would've won this one," said Casas, who last won at ICTSI Del Monte last year.
Playing in third to the last flight, Casas matched par 35 at the front to catch up with Ababa and made two birdies against a bogey at the back to remain tied for the lead. But he three-putted the 17th to fall behind and missed an eight-footer for birdie on the tough finishing hole.
Fernando settled for solo third with a 219 after a 73 while Bayron, the reigning Order of Merit champion, tumbled down to fourth with a 221.
Asistio carded a 74 and wound up tied for fifth with Richard Sinfuego (72) and Pagunsan (77) at 222 while Mhark Fernando matched Bayron's tournament-best 67 in the second round with his own four-under card as he salvaged solo eighth at 223.
Korean Wang Jeung Hun made a 74 and emerged the top amateur with a 224 as he shared ninth place with Randy Garalde (74) and Jerson Balasabas (75) in the tournament 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)

Davao's Bayron storms to 5-shot lead with 67

SILANG, Cavite – Jay Bayron flashed superb putting and turned in a solid four-under 67, pulling away with a five-stroke lead over Rey Pagunsan as the rest continued to struggle at Riviera’s Langer layout in the second round of the P1 million ICTSI Riviera Classic here.
Coming off a shaky first round 73 in tough condition late Wednesday, Bayron took full advantage of his early morning start on Thursday, ramming in six birdies inside 10 feet against a bogey from an errant drive for a 32-35 card as he moved closer to completing a back-to-back title romp in the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour.
With a 140 aggregate, the runaway winner of the recent Aboitiz Invitational presented by ICTSI in Cebu stood five shots ahead of Pagunsan, who rolled in a 20-footer for par on the 18th to preserve a closing 33 for a 72.
“I was so confident of my putting and made five sidehill-downhill putts,” said Bayron, who banged in a 25-foot birdie putt on No. 3 to get him into the groove. He made a couple of 10 footers on Nos. 7 and 9 then negated a bogey mishap on No. 11 with birdies on Nos. 13 and 16.
Pagunsan, who spent the early part of the season in Japan, recovered from a woeful 39 at the front, firing four bogeys in the last nine holes against a bogey for that 72 and a 145.
Like Bayron, the power-hitting Pagunsan leaned on his putting, sinking birdies inside seven feet on Nos. 10, 11, 13 and 15.
“I putted very well today (Thursday),” said Pagunsan. “But it’s nice to be in the hunt. This is my best chance to win in a long while.”
But he must beat the best in the field as Bayron poised himself up for another victory after closing out with a brilliant 30 to rout the field by five in the Aboitiz Invitational.
With Anthony Fernando wavering with a three-over 74 and dropping six shots behind at 146 and Jhonnel Ababa also carding a 74 for a 147, the battle for the top P200,000 purse in this 11th leg of the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. could be just down to the top two players.
But anything can still happen at Langer.
Antonio Asistio II and Cassius Casas, who shared the first round lead with 71s, struggled with their long game and made a pair of 77s as they tumbled down to 148 in a tie with last year’s national champion Clyde Mondilla, who carded a 74.
Marvin Dumandan bounced back a bit with a 72 after a 76 as he joined Casas, Asistio and Mondilla in fourth place while Rufino Bayron and Gary Sales both shot 72s to be at 149 in the company of Ramil Bisera (76), Jerson Balasabas (74) and amateur Art Arbole (75).
The event, sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc., 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)

Casas, Asistio share lead with 71s

SILANG, Cavite – Cassius Casas of Davao and Antonio Asistio II took different routes to produce the same results – a pair of 71s – that proved to be the best scores in a punishing day at Riviera’s Langer layout at the start of the P1 million ICTSI Riviera Classic here, Wednesday.
Unfancied Randy Garalde actually appeared headed for the first day honors in this 11th leg of the 16-stage ICTSI-Philippine Golf Circuit with a one-under card but succumbed to the demanding condition of the ravine-laced par-71 course and bogeyed the last three holes.
That enabled Casas and Asistio to snatch the lead with the former, seeking to end a year-long title drought, hitting three birdies at the back for a 38-33 and the latter, still in search of a maiden win in two years, birdying two of the last three holes at the front for a 36-35.
They took a one-stroke lead over Anthony Fernando, the former national champion also in pursuit of a breakthrough victory in the circuit who overcame two double-bogeys and two bogeys with four birdies for solo third at two-over 72.
Garalde’s closing 38 dropped him to joint fourth at 73 with fancied Jay Bayron, Jhonnel Ababa, Rey Pagunsan and Rami Bisera as the rest either groped for form or simply stumbled with poor rounds at one of the country’s toughest courses.
Bayron, coming off a big win at Aboitiz Invitational presented by ICTSI in Cebu three weeks ago, took his familiar role as leader with a one-under 35 at the back. But the reigning Order of Merit champion wavered with three bogeys in a birdie-less stint at the front.
Ababa, who nipped Bayron in a playoff to clinch his maiden win at ICTSI-Iloilo Golf Challenge, also had a decent 35 at the front but with a closing 38.
Gene Bondoc strung up nines of 36-38 for a 74 as he tied amateurs Clyde Mondilla, Art Arbole and Korean Wang Jeung Hun while Jerson Balasabas carded a 75 for a share of 13th place with Christopher delos Santos, Richard Sinfuego, Ebarra Quiachon, Dante Becierra , James Ryan Lam, Richard Abaring and another amateur Zanie Boy Gialon.
Mhark Fernando, one of the pre-tournament favorites to contend for the crown after ruling this event as an amateur in 2009, never recovered from a horrible 41 at the front and ended up with an 81. At joint 54th, the ICTSI Del Monte leg winner is in danger of missing the cut for the third time in 11 legs of the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.
Marvin Dumandan, another top player tipped to vie for this week’s title, double bogeyed No. 16 and limped home with a 76 in a tie with Danny Zarate, Rufino Bayron, Edwin Estrera and Charles Hong.
The event, sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc., 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)

Pros face acid test as ICTSI Riviera unfolds

DUMANDAN

ABABA

SILANG, Cavite - The men of the tour face a wide range of tests - from the tricky layout, the testy putting surface and the wind - as they resume their title chase in the P1 million ICTSI Riviera Classic, which unwraps on Wednesday, Sept. 14 at Riviera's Langer course here.

Davao's Jay Bayron is out to make it two-in-row after stamping his class with a brilliant final round blitz in the Aboitiz Invitational presented by ICTSI in Cebu three weeks ago, Mhark Fernando hopes to re-display his mastery of the par-71 layout while Marvin Dumandan is upbeat of his chances on a course he used to call home.

With Jhonnel Ababa, another Dabawenyo, and Robert Pactolerin raring to book their second leg titles on the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour and a host of others going all out for a first victory on a busy season, the battle for the top P200,000 purse in the 54-hole tournament organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. is indeed expected to be fierce.

But the field faces an assortment of challenges at the demanding layout which requires not just precise shot-making and steady putting but also mental toughness with the dreaded wind expected to come into play on most holes.

The absence of some of the tour’s big guns, who are competing in the Macau Open also this week, makes the title chase in this 11th leg of a 16-stage circuit, sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc., even tighter with Rufino Bayron and Anthony Fernando hoping to finally hit pay-dirt along with Antonio Asistio II, Carl Santos-Ocampo, Erwin Vinluan, Orlan Sumcad, Arnold Villacencio, Gene Bondoc, Elmer Saban, Jun Bernis, Jerson Balasabas and Dante Becierra.

Ferdie Aunzo, out to end a long title drought after scoring a breakthrough win at ICTSI-Royal Northwoods last year, is also tipped to contend for the crown along with veteran campaigners Cassius Casas, Richard Sinfuego, Jerome Delariarte, Benjie Magada and Rey Pagunsan.

Also in the fold is Dutch Guido Van der Valk, who figured in a five-man playoff, together with Elmer Salvador, in last Sunday’s Singapore Classic, who is expected to crowd the top local shotmakers in the event 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.

But focus will be on Jay Bayron, Mhark Fernando, Dumandan, Ababa, Casas, Rufino Bayron and Anthony Fernando, who are all out to boost their respective ranking in the Top 10 of the current Order of Merit of the ICTSI-PGT.

Jay Bayron, the reigning OOM winner, is in second place behind suspended Juvic Pagunsan with Ababa in fifth followed by Dumandan, Fernando, Casas, Rufino Bayron and Anthony Fernando.

Meanwhie, the tour heads to Sherwood Golf Club, also in Cavite, for the ICTSI Sherwood Hills Classic on Sept. 28-30 with the Villamor Golf Club debuting in the circuit in three years by hosting the ICTSI Villamor Classic on Oct. 19-21.

The circuit will also make its first stop at Calatagan Golf Club in Batangas for the ICTSI Calatagan Challenge on Oct. 26-28 before Canlubang hosts the penultimate leg on Nov. 9-11 with the ICTSI Canlubang Golf Invitational. The tour winds up with the ICTSI Wack Wack Championship at Wack Wack, which is also hosting a leg for the first time on Nov. 23-25.(pr)

BAYRON

FERNANDO

Fernando seeks to relive ICTSI Riviera glory

Mhark Fernando hopes to re-acquaint himself with Riviera’s dreaded Langer layout where he won a pro title as an amateur two years ago as he joins the title hunt in the ICTSI Riviera Classic which gets going Wednesday (Sept. 14). Fernando, then spearhead of the national squad, survived the harsh playing condition and humbled the star-studded pro field to win in Sept. 2009, beating Ferdie Aunzo, Richard Sinfuego and Edwin Sanchez by three. He topped the Phl team elims, also at Langer, one month later to underscore his mastery of the up-and-down par-71 course. With a confidence boosted by his breakthrough victory as a pro at ICTSI Del Monte Championship last month, Fernando looms as one of the players to beat in the 54-hole championship organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. and sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, inc. But the soft-spoken ace shotmaker opted to downplay his chances in the P1 million event serving as the 11th leg of the 16-stage ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour. “It’s always an anybody’s race when you play Riviera. But I like my chances although everybody can win there,” said Fernando. “It will depend on one’s form and the condition of the course.” Marvin Dumandan is the other player to watch in the event with last year’s three-leg winner, the former club pro, hoping to re-flash his familiarity with the hazard-laden layout, which changes in character in every twirl of the wind. Meanwhile, Fernando and Dumandan and the other leading pros get the chance to test the course as they play in the traditional pro-am tournament today (Tuesday) along with the guests and officials of the event’s chief backers, including 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. With the most feared player on the tour out for the rest of the season, the chase for the top P200,000 purse turns into anybody’s race with Jay Bayron also fancied to crowd Fernando and Dumandan for this week’s crown. Juvic Pagunsan, winner of four of the tour’s first 10 legs and the runaway leader in the Order of the Merit race, was suspended for the rest of the season for breach of PGTI (Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.) rules on players’ conduct, sending the battle for the OOM crown into a wide-open affair. Bayron, who frustrated Pagunsan with a final leg win at ICTSI Canlubang to snatch the OOM crown last year, now has P883,994 earnings, still way behind Pagunsan’s P1,474,604 winnings but confident of catching up with six more legs left in the circuit. Others tipped to figure in the title chase in the title hunt are leg winners Jhonnel Ababa (Iloilo) and Robert Pactolerin (Bacolod), Cassius Casas, Anthony Fernando and brother Rufino Bayron and Jerson Balasabas and Dutch Guido Van der Valk and Aunzo. Meanwhile, Elmer Salvador is just behind Bayron in the OOM race with P812,019 followed by Tony Lascuna (P764,219), Ababa (P561,456), Dumandan (P506,632), Mhark Fernando (P395,864), Casas (P314,254), Rufino Bayron (P311,654) and Anthony Fernando (P311,205).(pr)

Phl ladies collapse, lose by 1

HONG KONG – Thailand pounced on the Philippines’ backside meltdown to snatch a one-stroke victory with a closing 220 as the Filipina golfers fumbled with a 224 in the final of the Santi Cup of the Southeast Asian Amateur Golf Team Championship at the Clearwater Bay Golf and Country Club here, recently.
Dottie Ardina went over par for the first time, finishing with a 72 but which still stood as the team’s best score as Andie Unson made a 75 and Chihiro Ikeda blew it all at the back with a 41 for a 77.
Jayvie Agojo also wavered at the finish and didn’t count with a 78.
The Philippines, which led by three heading to the final day on rounds of 207, 209, 213, wound up with an 853 and lost by one.
Thailand didn’t do well either, shooting a 219 after a 210, 208, 214. But the Thais cashed in on the Pinays’ collapse in the closing holes with Pavarisa Yoktuan and Panitta Yusabai clinching the win with final hole birdies.
Pinrath Loomboonruang, playing in the final flight with Ardina, holed out with a bogey to make it a one-shot win as she matched Ardina’s 72 while Yoktuan and Yusabai carded a 73 and 75, respectively, for a 220 and an 852 aggregate.
The Thais moved within one after nine holes but ICTSI-backed bets surged to a running seven-shot lead after the top two Phl scorers totaled one-over par before Ikeda stumbled with a double-bogey on No. 13.
Thailand started the backside with a combined seven-over card but re-grouped as Loomboonruang and Phaewchimplee both birdied No. 15 to bounce back.
Ikeda earlier bogeyed No. 14 which Agojo double-bogeyed before the latter dropped two more strokes in the last four holes and was scratched out.
“We were up by 7 before Ikeda made a double-bogey on No. 13. They simply collapsed,” rued ICTSI golf and national team coach Bong Lopez. “We just gave it to them.”
It was a sorry fold-up by the Filipinas, whose campaign was sanctioned by the National Golf Association of the Phils. and supported by ICTSI and the Philippine Sports Commission, who took the lead right in the first round and kept it with gutsy rounds in the next two days only to disintegrate when the going got tough.
Ardina, who earlier strung up impressive rounds of 68, 69, 69, also missed clinching the individual honors with a 277, losing by one to Loomboonruang, who had a 276.
Malaysia finished a far third at 877 after a 223 while Hong Kong wound up fourth with a 221 for an 880 followed by Singapore (215-883) and Indonesia (233-916).
Meanwhile, the Phl juniors team made a 234 and finished fourth in the Lion City Cup topped by Thailand, which had an 869 after a 220, beating Malaysia (220-872) by three. Indonesia placed third with an 888 after a 226 followed by Singapore (233-904) and Hong Kong (245-935).
Andres Saldaña’s 77 became the Phl’s best score as Gio Gandionco had a 78 and Rupert Zaragoza made a 79. Clyde Mondilla was out with an 80 in the event the Filipinos ruled in Malaysia last year.
The Putra Cup team of Zanie Boy Gialon (71), John Kier Abdon (75) and Art Arbole (75) wound up sixth in a field of seven, pooling a final round 221 for an 883, nipping Myanmar, which had an 885 after a 228.
Singapore held off Hong Kong, 216-218, to clinch the crown with an 846 with the hosts setting for runner-up with an 850. Indonesia placed third with an 860 after a 219 followed by Malaysia (220-862) and dethroned champion Thailand (221-880).(pr)

PGTI suspends erring Pagunsan

The Philippine Golf Tournaments, Inc., organizer of the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour, has suspended ace Juvic Pagunsan from participating for the remaining legs of the circuit this year for breach of the PGT guidelines on professional conduct.

Pagunsan walked out of the recent Aboitiz Invitational presented by ICTSI in Cebu after refusing to abide by the club’s house rules. He had previously escaped sanction after pulling out of the ICTSI-Forest Hills Invitational in the middle of his round without informing the PGTI last year.

This time, the PGTI has had enough and threw the book at the talented but recalcitrant shotmaker.

In suspending Pagunsan, Colo Ventosa, general manager of PGTI, cited Clause 10 of the PGT guidelines: “The PGT will maintain a strict ‘no tolerance’ policy on any behavior unbecoming of a professional. It is the desire of PGT to hold tournaments in a highly professional manner. Competitors participating in these tournaments shall conduct themselves in the highest standards of courtesy and sportsmanship, which they are bound to honor at all times whether on or off the golf course.”

Provisions of the clause covers professional conduct, including failure to comply with appropriate Etiquette, Misbehavior, Injurious Conduct and other similar acts and omissions.

Pagunsan has won four of the first 10 legs of this year’s 16-stage tour and has been the runaway leader in the Order of Merit ranking. But without him in the last six legs, a wide-open race for the coveted crown loomed starting with the ICTSI Riviera Classic beginning Wednesday (Sept. 14) at Riviera’s Langer course in Silang, Cavite.

“We have been deeply concerned about your actions and behavior in various occasions, most recent of which was during the practice round of the Aboitiz Invitational in Cebu last Aug. 29, 2011, where you willfully refused to abide by the club’s house rules and walked out of the premises. Despite our guidance as your manager and promoter, and repeated stern verbal warnings on your acts in the past, our advice and instructions have fallen on deaf ears,” Ventosa said.

Before meting out the suspension, the PGTI conducted a thorough investigation on the complaints of Pagunsan’s actions and behavior. ICTSI, Pagunsan’s corporate benefactor, agreed to the suspension.

“As a Professional Golfer sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI), you are expected to always conduct yourself in a professional manner as you are representing the ICTSI brand,” Ventosa said.

The suspension, however, will not apply to Pagunsan’s overseas campaigns. However, the PGTI reminded him that in tournaments abroad, it expects him to conduct himself in high esteem especially since he represents, not only PGTI and ICTSI, but also the country.

Jay Bayron is expected to gain on Pagunsan’s suspension as he moved up to second in the OOM race after topping the recent $65,000 million Aboitiz Invitational presented by ICTSI, the first Philippine event to be featured on the Asian Development Tour.

From Riviera, the tour goes to Sherwood Hills, also in Cavite, for the ICTSI Sherwood Hills Classic on Sept. 28-30, then to Villamor, which will host an ICTSI-PGT leg for the first time on Oct. 19-21, for the ICTSI Villamor Classic. The Calatagan layout in Batangas will also make its debut on the circuit when it stages the ICTSI Calatagan Challenge on Oct. 26-28, while Canlubang will host the penultimate leg on Nov. 9-11 for the ICTSI Canlubang Golf Invitational before the tour winds up at Wack Wack on Nov. 23-25 for the ICTSI Wack Wack Championship.(pr)

Dottie, Javyie hike Phl lead to 3

HONG KONG – Dottie Ardina shot a 68 and Jayvie Agojo bounced back with a 70 as the Philippines survived another backside meltdown with a 213 to pad its lead to three over Thailand in the third round of the Santi Cup of the Southeast Asia Amateur Golf Team Championships here, Thursday.
Andie Unson made a birdie-less 75, the same output put in by Dabawenya Chihiro Ikeda, who sputtered with a 39 at the back, including a final hole bogey, with one of those five-over cards counting for the team’s 213 and a 54-hole total of 629.
Thailand, two shots adrift at the start of the round, pressed its bid at the back despite falling farther behind by five after nine holes. But Pavarisa Yoktuan failed to match teammates Pinrath Loomboonruang and Panitta Yusabai’s solid finishes and ended up with a 38 for a 74.
Loomboonruang rebounded from a triple-bogey 8 on No. 2 with five birdies in the last 14 holes, finishing with a 68 and preserving a one-stroke lead (204) over Ardina (205) in the individual race. Yusabai fought back from a 39 with a 33 for a 72 while Yoktuan counted despite a 74 for Thailand’s 214 and 632.
“Chihiro simply lost her focus at the back, missing a lot of putts but Dottie remains as solid as ever. Jayvie also made a good account of herself after two poor rounds while I hope Andie to bounce back tomorrow (Friday),” said national team and ICTSI golf squad coach Bong Lopez.
The ICTSI-backed ladies team, whose campaign along with the men’s and junior squads, is sanctioned by the National Golf Association of the Phils. and supported by ICTSI and the Philippine Sports Commission, gained three more strokes over Thailand at the turn with an even-par aggregate as Ardina made a 33 and Agojo and Ikeda shot 36s. Unson made a 37.
But Ikeda made three straight bogeys from No. 11 and Unson bogeyed three of the first four holes. Agojo hit a birdie on No. 14 and parred the last four holes for a 70 while Ardina bogeyed No. 13 but birdie the 16th to preserve a two-under round.
 “This is very interesting. I missed a couple of birdie putts and made some poor shots but overall, it’s another good round,” said Ardina in Filipino.
Malaysia improved to third but stood too far behind at 654 after a 212, making the final round a shootout between the Filipinas and the Thais. Hong Kong slid to fourth with a 659 after a 229 followed by Singapore (223-668) and Indonesia (226-683).
Meanwhile, the national junior team moved one rung up to fourth with a 222 for a 667 but virtually yielded the Santi Cup crown as it remained 18 strokes behind Thailand.
The Putra Cup team, on the other hand, remained in the cellar with a 662 after a 219 although it closed within Thailand, which has a 659 after a 222, in a surprise duel of the region’s top teams at the tailend of the seven-team field with Myanmar barely ahead of the duo with a 657 after a 223.
Singapore unleashed a fiery third round charge as four players broke par with Jerome Ng’s 69 failing to count. Marc Ong led the attack with a 66, Tze Huang Choo shot a 67 and Gregory Foo carded a 68 for a nine-under 201 and a 54-hole aggregate of 630 as the Singaporeans grabbed a two-shot lead over halfway leader Hong Kong, who slid to second with a 632 despite a solid two-under 208.
Indonesia was far behind in third with a 641 after a 216 while Malaysia lay just a stroke behind at 642 after a 215.
Lloyd Go, a revelation from Cebu, matched par 70 to emerge the top scorer for the men’s team with Zanie Boy Gialon and Art Arbole adding 74 and 75, respectively, and John Kier Abdon out for the third straight time with a 78.
Andres Saldaña, meanwhile, led the juniors squad with a 73, Gio Gandionco made a 74 and either Rupert Zaragoza or Clyde Mondilla’s 75 counted for the team’s 222 and a 667.
The defending champion got past Singapore (229-671) and Hong Kong (231-693) but was too way behind Thailand, which braced for a final round shootout with Malaysia with a 649 after a 220. The Malaysians rallied with a 213 to move within three at 652. Indonesia is in third with a 662 after a 223.(pr)

Phl flounders, tumbles to fifth in Lion City Cup

HONG KONG – The defending champion Philippine junior team yielded to poor form and limped home with a horrible 17-over 227 as it fell by 16 shots behind a steady Thailand crew halfway through the Lion City Cup of the Southeast Asian Amateur Golf Team Championships here yesterday.
Gio Gandionco, who made a 73 in Tuesday’s opener, had a rollercoaster round at the up-and-down Clearwater Bay Golf and Country Club course, making three birdies, three bogeys and two double bogeys for a four-over 74, the best score in a day of floundering fortunes for the souped-up squad.
Rupert Zaragoza, the reigning national junior and men’s champion, failed to get going after dropping two strokes on No. 12, hitting just one birdie against four more bogeys for a 75 after a 74, while Andres Saldaña, who didn’t count with a 79 Tuesday, made five bogeys and two double bogeys against a lone birdie for a 78 that still counted for the team.
Clyde Mondilla, the best scorer in the first round with a 71, stumbled with a bogey and a double bogey in the first five holes at the back then made a 9 at the par-5 15th for a 42 then fumbled with another double bogey and a bogey against a birdie for a 37 and a 79.
It was a sorry round indeed for the Filipino junior players, who started the day just three behind the Thais after a decent 218 but will start today’s third round 16 strokes behind with a 445 aggregate and in fifth place in a field of six.
Led by reigning Vietnam Amateur Open champion Chanchok Dejpiratanamongkol and last year’s Thai Junior champion Pariwat Pinsawat’s 71s and Somprad Rattansuwan’s 72, Thailand pooled a 214 for a 429 and posted a 10-shot lead over new pursuers Indonesia, which assembled a 439, and Malaysia, which shot the day’s best output of 213, for 439s.
Singapore also bounced back from a 227 with a 215 to move up to fourth at 442, relegating the Philippines, which beat Thailand by four to win last year’s crown in Malaysia, to second-to-last.
Hong Kong even bettered the Phl’s second day effort with a 225 but remained in last at 462.
Meanwhile, the Santi Cup team of Dottie Ardina, Chihiro Ikeda, Andie Unson and Jayvie Agojo, and the Putra Cup squad of John Kier Abdon, Art Arbole, Zanie Boy Gialon and Lloyd Go were still playing at presstime.
Ikeda, the reigning Philippine Ladies Open champion, fired a three-under 32 after nine holes while Ardina, the top scorer in the first round with a 68, had an even par card while Unson had a one-over for the ICTSI-backed ladies team, which led Thailand by three after 18 holes.
The Putra Cup team, dead last after the first round of the Putra Cup, remained in the cellar at 443 after a 222 as Zanie Boy Gialon hit a 71, Lloyd Go groped with a 75 and Art Arbole made a 76. They stood 19 shots off new leader Hong Kong, which fired a 207 for a 424, one ahead of erstwhile leader Indonesia, which shot a 215 for a 425.
Malaysia moved up to third with a 427 after a 208 while Singapore dropped to fourth at 429 after a 214 followed by Myanmar (215-434) and defending champion Thailand (219-439).
The three-team Phl contingent’s campaign in the event is sanctioned by the National Golf Association of the Phils. and supported by ICTSI and the Philippine Sports Commission. The coaches are Carito Villaroman (men’s), Bong Lopez (ladies) and Boyet Zaragoza (juniors) with NGAP’s head for golf development Tommy Manotoc as head of delegation.(pr)

Davao's Bayron banners ICTSI-Riviera Classic field

Davao's Jay Bayron, fresh from his emphatic victory in the Aboitiz Invitational presented by ICTSI in Cebu, goes for another win as he heads the field in the ICTSI-Riviera Classic slated Sept. 14-16 at Riviera’s Langer layout in Silang, Cavite.
Bayron turned in a spectacular final round 64 to dominate the Aboitiz tilt two weeks ago, winning by five over Elmer Salvador, Tony Lascuna, Marvin Dumandan and American Jonathan Moore.
The victory in the first Philippine event to be calendared on the Asian Development Tour was worth P500,500 for Bayron, who gained on Juvic Pagunsan in the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour’s Order of Merit race.
Bayron, who sneaked past Pagunsan to capture the OOM crown last year, now has P883,994 earnings, still way behind Pagunsan’s P1,474,604 winnings but confident of catching up with six more legs left in the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.
Out to crowd Bayron for top honors in the upcoming P1 million 54-hole event are leg winners Mhark Fernando (Del Monte), Jhonnel Ababa (Iloilo) and Robert Pactolerin (Bacolod), Salvador, Cassius Casas, Anthony Fernando and brother Rufino Bayron and Jerson Balasabas.
Pagunsan, winner of four of the first 10 legs, dominated the ICTSI Riviera Classic last year but will not see action next week, along with the other regular Asian Tour campaigners, to vie in the Macau Open.
Meanwhile, Salvador is just behind Bayron in the OOM race with P812,019 followed by Lascuna (P764,219), Ababa (P561,456), Dumandan (P506,632), Mhark Fernando (P395,864), Casas (P314,254), Rufino Bayron (P311,654) and Anthony Fernando (P311,205).
From Riviera, the 16-stage tour heads to Sherwood Golf Club, also in Cavite, for the ICTSI Sherwood Hills Classic on Sept. 28-30 with the Villamor Golf Club debuting in the circuit in three years by hosting the ICTSI Villamor Classic on Oct. 19-21.
The tour, sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc., will also make its first stop at Calatagan Golf Club in Batangas for the ICTSI Calatagan Challenge on Oct. 26-28 before Canlubang hosts the penultimate leg on Nov. 9-11 with the ICTSI Canlubang Golf Invitational.
The circuit winds up with the ICTSI Wack Wack Championship at Wack Wack, which is also hosting a leg for the first time on Nov. 23-25.
The other chief backers of the local tour are 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)

Phl ladies eye breakthru in Santi Cup

Dottie Ardina and Dabawenya Chihiro Ikeda hope to dish out the game expected of them as the Philippines takes another crack at the Santi Cup, one of the three titles to be disputed in the Putra Cup, which gets going Monday at the Clearwater Bay Golf and Country Club in Hong Kong.
Foiled in the first two editions of the event by the Thais, the Filipina golfers go all out this time with a strong roster that includes the two other spearheads of the ICTSI golf program – Andrea Unson and Jayvie Agojo.
The Phl ladies lost to the Thais by 11 strokes last year but are primed up for this week’s battle with ICTSI coach Bong Lopez expecting an explosive start for his star-studded crew.
“With their form and experience, I think we have a pretty good chance this year,” said Lopez.
Ikeda, the reigning Philippine Ladies Open champion, is coming off a victory in the Thailand Open and Selangor Open recently while Ardina, winner of this year’s Queen Sirikit individual crown, also ruled the recent San Diego Masters and made the finals of the US Girls Open.
Unson, on the other hand, is the reigning Philippine Amateur champion, while Agojo is the former Philippine Ladies Open champion who also won the New Zealand foursomes with Sarah Ababa.
The men's team, composed of Zanie Boy Gialon, Art Arbole, John Kier Abdon and LJ Go, also tries to end Thailand's domination of the Putra Cup, also known as the Southeast Asian Amateur Golf Team Championship. The Phl has not won the title since 1996 in Myanmar.
But focus will be on the junior squad, which sets out for a second straight championship in the Lion City Cup.
Led by Jobim Caros, the Phl held off Thailand's final round charge to win by four in Malaysia last year in a victory that made up for the men's and ladies squads' runner-up finishes in their respective events.
Reigning national champion Rupert Zaragoza will spearhead the squad this time in lieu of Carlos with support to come from former national titlist and last year's members Clyde Mondilla and Andres Saldana and Gio Gandiongco.
The delegation, headed by Tommy Manotoc and coaches Carito Villaroman (men's) and Boyet Zaragoza (juniors) left yesterday with the teams hoping to get at least two practice rounds at the tough layout.
The Phl contingent’s stint is sanctioned by the National Golf Association of the Phils. with NGAP president Leandro Mendoza expressing confidence of each team’s title chances in the four-to-play, three-to-count format event spread over four days.(pr)

Crown slips from Davao's Salvador; Bayron is champion

CEBU – Jay Bayron scorched the backside with a sizzling five-under 30 and completed a bogey-free 64 to post a whopping five-stroke victory over Jonathan Moore and Elmer Salvador and retain the Aboitiz Invitational presented by ICTSI 2011 crown at the Cebu Country Club.

Bayron’s stirring windup turned what was expected to be a wild finish in the $65,000 event into a rout as he sped away with five birdies, including three straight from No. 15, to become the first player to win the first Philippine event to be featured on the Asian Development Tour.

His 64 gave him a 72-hole aggregate of two-under 278, five ahead of Salvador, Moore, Tony Lascuna and Marvin Dumandan, who all had 283s in the event sponsored by Aboitiz Equity Ventures.

Bayron, who also beat absentee Juvic Pagunsan by two in last year’s inaugurals of the event, presented by International Container Terminal Services, Inc., on the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour, took home $11,375.

“My iron game and putting clicked,” said Bayron, who birdied No. 10 to go1-up over Salvador and two ahead Moore then rolled in a par-saving putt from 21 feet on No. 11 to pad his lead.

But Bayron said it was his 5-iron tee-shot on the par-3 13th that stopped six feet off the cup for another birdie that keyed his victory as he built enough lead to cushion a possible fightback by his rivals.

But no such rally came. Instead, Bayron added two more birdies on Nos. 14 and 15 to wrap up the crown, his first in the year after finishing second to Berry Henson in the ICTSI-Philippine Open last May at Wack Wack.

“My par-saving putt on No. 11 was crucial but the key was my birdie on No. 13, it gave me a three-shot cushion,” said Bayron, who tied Salvador for the lead at the turn, took the lead with a birdie on No. 10, built another cushion with another birdie on the 13th before storming away with that title-clinching three-birdie string.

“Jay is fun to watch. He had a great round of golf today. A 64 was really special and I enjoyed watching how well he played being alongside with him,” said Moore.

For the fourth straight day, Salvador was hounded by poor putting, saying: “I still can’t get my putting worked. I told myself that I needed a birdie on the final hole but still failed to sink an eight-footer.”

Salvador and Moore, who started the final round one ahead of Bayron, closed out with identical 70s and wound up tied for second at 283 with Lascuna and Dumandan, who both carded 67s.

Lascuna and Dumandan, in a flight ahead of the championship group, actually moved within one off Bayron with a 33 at the front. But Lascuna turned in just one birdie at the back for a 33-34 round and Dumandan missed gaining solo second with a bogey on the final hole.

Cassius Casas rallied with two birdies in the last five holes to shoot a 68 and claimed solo sixth place with a 284 while Rufino Bayron carded a 71 for solo seventh at 286.

Unheralded Ebarra Quiachon matched par 70 to turn in a top 10 finish in a big tournament at eighth with a 287 while Mithun Perera of Sri Lanka was the next top foreign finisher in the event after Moore at joint ninth at 288 with Jhonnel Ababa (71) as he made a 72.

The event was 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.(pr)

Salvador takes control with second 71 as Casas fades

DAVAO'S ELMER SALVADOR.

CEBU City – Elmer Salvador bucked poor putting and pounced on Cassius Casas’ meltdown at the front to wrest control then holed out with a birdie on No. 9 to card a 71 and preserve the lead in a topsy-turvy second round of the rich Aboitiz Invitational presented by ICTSI 2011 here, Thursday.
It was Salvador’s second straight one-over card at the Cebu Country Club which continued to baffle the field with its toughness that saw first round leader Arnold Villacencio limp home with an 82. But it was enough to propel the reticent Davaoeno shotmaker to the top of the heap with a 142 halfway through the first local event to be calendared on the Asian Development Tour.
That was one shot ahead of Jonathan Moore, the American rookie seeking a second leg title on the ADT after beating Artemio Murakami in the third leg at the Impian Classic in Malaysia last May.
Moore had a decent two-bogey, one-birdie stint to match Salvador’s output for a 143, while sophomore pros Rufino Bayron (71), Antonio Asistio II (73) and Casas (73) stood a stroke farther back at 144.
With five players, led by defending champion Jay Bayron (74), pooling 36-hole aggregates of 145, and five more, including Australian Matt Docking and Jhonnel Ababa, assembling a 146, a wild, wild chase is expected in the last two rounds of the $65,000 tournament sponsored by Aboitiz Equity Ventures (AEV) and presented by International Container Terminal Services, Inc.
“Masama talaga ang putting ko pero mahirap talaga ang greens, masyadong firm” rued Salvador, referring to his three-putt bogey mishap on No. 3 and a couple of missed birdie putts from four feet.
“Kailang mag-click ang putting kasi di pa ako nanalo ng masama ang putting,” added Salvador, who had two runner-up finishes this year.
Like all the players, Moore struggled on the surface but vowed to make the
“The course is short but the greens are so firm. It really took all my time and energy,” said Moore. “Majority of the time you get few chances in the round when you can be aggressive.”
Casas did go an attack mode early and was rewarded, though briefly, as he sizzled with bogey-free 32 at the back where he started and quickly surged ahead by three over Salvador, Moore and a host of others.
But he lost his touch at the front, making a wet bogey on No. 1 and a double bogey on the second before dropping three more strokes in the last seven holes for a 41. He wound up with a 73.
“I just lost my rhythm,” said Casas in Filipino. “But there are still 36 holes to go, so let’s see what happens.”
Jay Bayron, winner of this event last year as a local tournament, stumbled with six bogeys against two bogeys for a 74 and 145 as he joined the group of Anthony Fernando (72), Sri Lanka’s Mithlin Perera (71), Marvin Dumandan (75) and Michael Bibat (72).
Ababa, winner of the ICTSI-Iloilo leg last month, Albin Engino and Docking all turned in second straight 73s to lead the 146 scorers, who included Richard Sinfuego (72) and Ernie Rellon, who partnered with amateur ace Marcel Puyat to win the Samsung Davao Pro-Am crown last week, who fought back with a 72.
Tony Lascuna, seeking an end to a long title drought, made a 74 and dropped into a tie with Japanese Motonari Nakagawa (72) in joint 16th at 147.
Villacencio turned from awesome to awful, limping with a birdie-less 12-over card after a tournament-leading 69 and tumbling down from first to joint 37th at 151, barely making the cut pegged at 153.
Fifth players made it to the last 36 holes, with Miguel Tabuena advancing with a 149 after a 77, along with Mars Pucay and Murakami with 150 after a 73 and 74, respectively, and Taiwanese Chiang Chen-chih, winner of the ADT's Transcend Open last May, who wavered with a 76.
A double-bogey 7 on the par-5 No. 2 portended the coming of a bleak day for Villacencio, who then made another “7” at the par-4 sixth for a 40 then stumbled with two bogeys, a double bogey and another triple-bogey for a 42.
It was actually another challenging day at the long, par-70 layout as the field failed to break par, leaving Villacencio as the lone player to shoot an under-par round.
Mhark Fernando, who scored a breakthrough at ICTSI-Del Monte, and Robert Pactolerin, winner at ICTSI-Bacolod, missed the cut with 155s after a 78 and 79, respectively.
The event is 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.(pr)

JONATHAN MOORE OF U.S.A.