Juvic, Jobim share lead with 66s

Dabawenyo Elmer Salvador.

Bacolodnon Juvic Pagunsan.

Dabawenyo Jay Bayron.

Juvic Pagunsan of Bacolod birdied No. 18 to complete a bogey-free round of six-under 66 and catch unlikely co-leader amateur Jobim Carlos at the start of the P1 million ICTSI Royal Northwoods Championship at the Royal Northwoods Golf and Country Club in San Rafael, Bulacan, Wednesday.
Humbled by the bespectacled Carlos in a virtual shootout at the front in one of the late afternoon flights, Pagunsan whisked off the top amateur’s challenge and holed out with a six-foot birdie putt for a pair of 33s and a share of the lead in the 54-hole tournament.
Carlos, priming up for the Philippine Amateurs two weeks from now, outgunned the veteran Pagunsan with five birdies against a bogey in a solid frontside stint and took a one-shot lead with three birdies against another bogey heading to the par-4 18th.
But he settled for a share of the lead, one stroke ahead of Jay Bayron and Mhark Fernando, while 22 others also broke par at the par-72 layout that virtually lay defense-less in the absence of the wind.
Bayron, the reigning Order of Merit winner, birdied two of the last three holes at the front, the backside of his game, while Fernando rallied with a 32, also at the front, for a pair of 67s.
A shot adrift at 68s were Anthony Fernando, the third player in the Pagunsan flight, unfancied Kevin Tayao, Elmer Salvador and defending champion Marvin Dumandan of Davao City as the favorites played true to form to put themselves in contention for the top P200,000 purse in the tournament sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc. and organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.
But while Pagunsan was expected to shine, Carlos provided the big surprise in the kickoff leg of the 12-stage circuit.
He actually showed up Pagunsan right on the opening hole, which he birdied then matched the latter’s three birdies in the next six holes to stay ahead. He dropped a stroke on No. 8 but bounced back with another birdie on the ninth for a 32.
Carlos, who led the Phl team’s runaway triumph in last year’s Lion City crown of the Putra Cup, matched Pagunsan’s back-to-back birdies from No. 13, bogeyed No. 16 but birdied the next to keep a one-shot lead going to the 18th.
Artemio Murakami, the reigning Philippine Open champion, shot a 69 to lead the group that includes Randy Garalde, Cassius Casas, Michael Bibat and Tomokazu Yoshinaga, while Gerald Rosales, Al Cruz, Juanito Pagunsan, Ramil Bisera, Albin Engino and Joenard Rates churned out identical two-under 70s.
Elmer Saban, Eddie Bagtas, Richard Abaring, Neil Catalan, Paul Echavez and former Phl Open winner Robert Pactolerin all carded 71s, five shots off the joint leaders.
The event is backed MJ Carr Golf Management, Inc., Srixon, Callaway, Dynamic Sports, Omnisource International, Unilab, Mizuno, Titleist. For details on sponsorship, contact Colo Ventosa at 632(908-8842535 or ICTSI at (632)241-9661 or fax (632)2478002 or emailgolf@ictsi.com or colo@pgt.ph. PR

R Northwoods hosts PGT kickoff leg

Royal Northwoods, a gem of a course in San Rafael, Bulacan, gets the honor to host Wednesday’s (March 30) opening leg of this year’s ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour , a 12-stage circuit offering a total prize fund of P12 million and featuring the cream of the country’s pro crop.

Spruced up to championship condition, the par-72 Graham Marsh-designed layout is expected to provide a true test of golf for the competing 84-pro field with its tight dog-leg fairways that require accuracy off the tee and bunkers and hazards that come into play on most holes.

With the speed of the greens and pin placement expected to baffle the pros, a wide open race for top honors is seen the way it did when Dabawenyo Marvin Dumandan needed two extra holes to nip townmate Tony Lascuna for last year’s crown at Northwoods.

Dumandan went on to emerge the winningest player on the tour last year with three wins, counting his title romps at ICTSI-Sherwood and ICTSI-Mimosa. But the rest of the field will be out to foil his title-retention drive and build some kind of momentum for another busy golf season.

The Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. has lined up a full calendar of events offering P 1 million each to be disputed over 54 holes at the championship courses in the country. It includes five new layouts – the Eastridge Golf Club in Binangonan, which hosts the fourth leg on June 1-3, the Tagaytay Midlands, the Iloilo Golf and Country Club, the Bacolod Golf and Country Club and Wack Wack.

Meanwhile, the traditional pro-am 18-hole tournament will be held on Tuesday with top ICTSI officials and their guests seeing action alongside the leading pros and top amateurs.

From Northwoods, the circuit, sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc., Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Srixon, Callaway, Dynamic Sports and Omnisource International, will head to Lipa, Batangas for the ICTSI Classic at Mt. Malarayat, while The Orchard in Cavite will stage the third leg on May 18-20 for the ICTSI Orchard Golf Championship.

The ICTSI Mt. Malarayat, also a leg on the Mercedes Benz Tour, will be circuit’s fifth leg on June 16-18 while the ICTSI Midlands Classic will be held June 29-July 1.

Action shifts to the Visayas on July 13-15 for the ICTSI Invitational at the Iloilo Golf and Country Club in Santa Barbara while Bacolod will stage the next leg on July 20-22 for another ICTSI Invitational tournament.

After a successful hosting last year, Cebu Country Club will again host the Aboitiz Invitational on Aug. 3-5 before the tour goes farther down south for the ICTSI Del Monte Championship on Aug. 24-26 at the Del Monte Golf Club.

Wack Wack, venue of this year’s Philippine Open, will host the penultimate leg on a date still to be announced while Canlubang will again be the tour’s final stop on Nov. 9-11 for the ICTSI Canlubang Golf Invitational.PR

Davao's Aunzo eyes back-to-back at Northwoods

Davoa's Ferdie Aunzo tries to become only the second player to defend a crown on the
ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour this year  as he goes for back-to-back victory at the
ICTSI-Royal Northwoods Championships beginning Oct. 6 in San Rafael, Bulacan.

Aunzo foiled veteran Rey Pagunsan’s final round charge to snatch a one-stroke
victory at Royal Northwoods Golf and Country Club last year and record his
maiden victory on the 54-hole pro circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf
Tournaments, Inc.
But the former national champion failed to score another win in the current
season although he turned in a couple of joint runner-up finishes, including at
ICTSI-Apo where Juvic Pagunsan ruled for the second straight year.
Pagunsan, along with the tour’s other top guns, including Angelo Que and Artemio
Murakami are doubtful starters due to previous commitments abroad. But the field
remains as tough as ever, ensuring another closely-fought battle for the top
P200,000 purse in the 11th leg of the PGT, sponsored by International Container
Terminal Services, Inc.
“It will be tough (to defend my title) since the field remains strong but I’ll
give it my best shot,” said Aunzo. “It’s been a while since I last won.”
Also on tap is the pro-am tournament on Oct. 5 with the leading pros teaming up
with the invited amateur guests from the event’s chief backers backed by MJ Carr
Golf Management, Jaguar, Land Rover, Studio 23, Balls TV, Srixon/Cleveland Golf,
Callaway Golf, Odyssey and Golf Punk and media partners Business
Mirror, Inquirer Golf Monthly, A Round of Golf, Pinoygolfer.com and Omnisource.
Tipped to crowd Aunzo for the crown are ICTSI-Mt. Malarayat winner Elmer
Salvador, ICTSI-Orchard champion Benjie Magada, ICTSI-Forest Hills ruler Mars
Pucay, Asian Tour campaigner Tony Lascuna, Jun Bernis, Michael Bibat, Rey
Pagunsan and rookie pros Antonio Asistio II and Rufino Bayron.
From Northwoods, the tour goes to Valley Golf Club in Antipolo for the ICTSI
Valley Golf Challenge on Nov. 10-12 before the circuit winds up at Canlubang on
Dec. 8-10 for the Tour Championship.(pr)