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