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)

Rising stars ready for Aboitiz Invit’l

Asia’s rising stars, headed by Filipinos Artemio Murakami, Carl Ocampo and Miguel Tabuena, will converge in Cebu for the latest Asian Development Tour (ADT) event next month when the Aboitiz Invitational presented by ICTSI is staged at the Cebu Country Club Aug. 31 to Sept. 3.
The $65,000-tournament is making its debut on the ADT this year, where it will become the seventh leg on its 2011 Schedule.
Murakami and Ocampo, along with Brunei’s newcomer Faiz Damit graced the press launched in Cebu Tuesday to promote the Aboitiz Invitational, which was launched last year as a domestic event on the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour.
As the Aboitiz Invitational will be one of the final tournaments of the season on the ADT, it will play an important role in determining the top three players on the Order of Merit. The leading three money-earners will gain an automatic card on the elite Asian Tour for the 2012 season.
The Aboitiz Equity Ventures (AEV) has an impressive portfolio of businesses, which include power, banking and food.
Others who graced the launch were Htwe Hla Han, senior director of Tour Development Asian Tour, Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. general manager Colo Ventosa, Cebu Country Club general manager Clifford Celdran and CCC golf director Frederick Chiongbian and Aboitiz Equity Ventures chief reputation officer Sebastian Lacson.

Chinese Taipei’s Chiang Cheh-chih, winner of the Transcend Championship in Taipei, is currently leading the OOM race with $22,750, followed by American Jonathan Moore, who topped the PGM Impian Classic in Kuala Lumpur with $15,916.
Murakami is in third spot with earnings of $14,517, followed by another Chinese Taipei player Chang Tse-peng and Malaysia’s S. Siva Chandhran, who was the inaugural ADT Order of Merit champion and the only player with multiple wins on the ADT so far.
Juvic Pagunsan, the current leader of the ICTSI-PGT Order of Merit and a winner in the Asian Tour, is also expected to join the title hunt in the Aboitiz Invitational along with the country’s other leading players such as Tony Lascuna, who finished joint third at the Asian Tour’s Worldwide Holdings Selangor Masters last week, and Angelo Que.
Murakami, who has won on the Asian Tour previously, said the upgrading of the Aboitiz Invitational into an ADT event will present a wonderful opportunity for budding Filipino golfers to compete on the international stage.
“I am very much looking forward to the Aboitiz Invitational as it will allow the local stars to compete against many of the leading players from the ADT. While the ADT is the development circuit for the Asian Tour, competition is still very demanding as the winning scores are often very low. We will need to consistently shoot low scores to compete on the ADT,” said Murakami.
Ocampo is also keen to test his game at the Aboitiz Invitational, saying: “It’s such a big thrill for the Aboitiz Invitational to upgrade its tournament into an ADT event. There are huge incentives for our players to win the tournament as it could result in a direct route onto the Asian Tour through the top three rankings in the ADT Order of Merit.”
Faiz believes that competing in the ADT has given him the added experience required to become a top-notch international golfer.
“Through regular competition in the ADT, I believe I am now a better player than before. It is great that we will have a new tournament on board with us with the Aboitiz Invitational joining the ADT Schedule. I’m looking forward to competing in this event as it gives us an opportunity to travel and compete,” said Faiz.(pr)

Davao's Bayron clips Dutch rival, cops Aboitiz crown

Stephen Paradies, chief finance officer and senior vice president of Aboitiz Equity Ventures, awards the trophy to Davao's Jay Bayron.[CONTRIBUTED PHOTO]

CEBU – Davao's Jay Bayron finally ended a string of runner-up finishes this year, outgunning Dutch Guido Van der Valk in the early going then holding off a charging Juvic Pagunsan at the back to annex the first Aboitiz Cebu Country Club Invitational crown with a closing two-under 70 for a two-stroke victory at the CCC layout here, Friday.

The 31-year-old Bayron, tied with Van der Valk at the start of the final round, bucked a double-bogey mishap on No. 3 with birdies on Nos. 7 and 9 to seize control then played it steady at the back to complete a pair of 35s over a course that proved tougher that what the field had thought it to be.

“Finally, I won again. It’s been a long search for another victory,” said Bayron, who had three runner-up finishes on the Mercedes Benz Tour this season and finished second to fellow Dabawenyo Marvin Dumandan at the ICTSI-Sherwood Classic early this year, in Filipino.

Counting his earlier 66 and 69, Bayron completed his wire-to-wire triumph with a 205 aggregate worth P200,000, scoring his second victory on the revival of the pro circuit after topping the ICTSI Valley leg last year.

Pagunsan, one of the early favorites to win this 10th leg of the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour sponsored by Aboitiz Equity Ventures, ran out of holes in his bid for a third leg victory after topping the ICTSI-Riviera and ICTSI-Apo stages. He shot one of the day’s only two 69s and snatched second place at 207. He took home P120,000 in a big rebound after he, along with Elmer Salvador and Richard Sinfuego, were disqualified on a final hole infraction at the ICTSI-Del Monte leg ruled by absentee Cassius Casas last month.

Van der Valk, bidding to become the first foreign player to win on the local circuit, took the lead with a par on No. 3. But like in his final round loss to Salvador in last year’s Philippine Open and to Artemio Murakami in the Asian Tour Qualifying in Thailand, the Dutchman cracked under pressure and tumbled down to eighth place.

He stumbled with a 37 at the front, double-bogeyed the 14th and bogeyed the last two holes for a 77, finishing with a 212.

Dumandan made a strong finish after withdrawing at Apo and skipping the Del Monte leg of the circuit presented by ICTSI and organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, grabbing third place with a 208 after a 70.

Jun Bernis, the former national champion, also turned in his best finish so far, a fourth place effort at 209 after a 71 while Angelo Que, fresh from his triumph at Selangor Masters in Malaysia, settled for joint fifth with Frankie Minoza and Murakami. Que and Minoza shot identical 70s while Murakami made a 71 for 210s.

Rufino Bayron fired the other 69 while fellow former national teammate Ferdie Aunzo carded a 73 as they tied for ninth at 213 while Tony Lascuna and Rey Pagunsan shared 11th place at 214 after a 72 and 73, respectively.

Jerson Balasabas emerged the low amateur for the third time in the season, firing a 70 for a share of 13th with Salvador (71), Ebarra Quiachon (71), Gene Bondoc (71) and Albin Engino (74).

The event was 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.[pr]

ABOITIZ INVITATIONAL: Angelo begins quest for local glory

Angelo Que hopes to ride the momentum of his playoff victory in Malaysia last week and nail the elusive win on the local circuit as he sets out in the Aboitiz Cebu Country Club Invitational firing off Wednesday, Aug. 11 at the CCC layout in Cebu City.

The best player never to have won a local tour leg this year, Que is oozing with confidence heading into the P1 million event after snapping a two-year title  drought on the Asian Tour with a playoff victory over Englishman Chris Rodgers in the Selangor Masters.

Unlike in his previous wins, however, Que said he won’t fall into the same trap again.

“One mistake that I had after winning was that I was full of confidence but I kept missing cuts right away,” said Que referring to his first two Asian Tour titles in 2004 (Vietnam Masters) and 2008 (Philippine Open).

“I think my expectations went up but winning doesn’t mean you’re going to be hitting perfect shots all the time. This time, I’m going to play it like I haven’t won anything. I won’t expect so many good shots and will just play it as it is,” he said.

What he must anticipate is the early charge of the tour’s other big guns, headed by fellow Asian Tour campaigners Juvic Pagunsan, Tony Lascuna, Mars Pucay, Artemio Murakami and leg winners Elmer Salvador, Marvin Dumandan and Benjie Magada  – all raring to foil Que’s title bid.

Add Frankie Minoza into the mix and Que truly has a deep roster of challengers to contend with for the top P200,000 purse in the 54-hole championship sponsored by Aboitiz Equity Ventures.

Minoza, for one, is out to annex a victory in a rare appearance on the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour, hoping to turn in an under-par total over a tough, tight course which requires accuracy.

“An over-par total won’t win here despite the course being tricky,” said Minoza, on a break from his European Seniors Tour and Japan PGA Tour campaigns.


Que actually started the year with a runaway victory in The Country Club Invitational but has struggled on the ICTSI-PGT circuit, forcing to take a 10-day break last month for a fitness and diet regimen.

“I took a one and a half week break in Koh Samui (in Thailand last month) and went with my wife to a yoga retreat center. I went on a no meat diet and I started from scratch and it helped me a lot to get my mind off things,” said
Que, who jumped from 21st to No. 9 in the Asian Tour Order of Merit rankings.

Also in the 79-player roster are Ferdie Aunzo, Jay Bayron, Antonio Asistio II, Rufino Bayron, Richard Sinfuego, Jun Bernis, Elmer Saban, Michael Bibat, Gene Bondoc, Anthony Fernando, Jerome Delariarte, Omar Dungca, Cookie La’O, Rey Pagunsan, Carito Villaroman, Danny Zarate and former RP Open champion Robert
Pactolerin.

Keen competition is also seen in the amateur side of the tournament, presented by International Container Terminal Services, Inc., as the cream of crop vies for low medal honors. They include reigning champion Clyde Mondilla, Mhark Fernando, Jhonnel Ababa, Jerson Balasabas, Peter Villaber and Dante Becierra.

The Aboitiz tournament serves as the 10th leg of the 14-stage ICTSI-PGT circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. and 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.(pr)

Top amateurs vie in Aboitiz Cebu tilt

A bumper crop of amateurs sees action in the Aboitiz Cebu Country Club Invitational, ready to do battle against the country’s leading pros in the P1 million event which reels off Wednesday at the Cebu Country Club in Cebu City.

Reigning national champion Clyde Mondilla, former titlist Mhark Fernando and former national team mainstays Jhonnel Ababa, Jerson Balasabas, Dante Becierra and Peter Villaber of the ICTSI golf stables make the core of what appears to be the most talented amateur roster to compete on the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour.

They are actually the leading players set to clash for berths in the national squad vying for at least three big events abroad this year, making the 54-hole tournament a tune-up of sort for the RP team aspirants.

Also in the fold are Sonny Villaber, Zanie Boy Gialon, Justin Limjap, Erwin Madrileño, Art Arbole, John Kier Abdon, Gio Gandioco, LJ Go, Carl Almario, Eric Deen, Montito Garcia, Jovi Neri, Bayani Garcia, Marko Sarmiento, Gen Nagai and Chepe Dulay.

Some of them are also teeing off on Tuesday's pro-am tournament, which actually kicks off the 10^th leg of the ICTSI-PGT circuit sponsored by Aboitiz Equity Ventures and presented by International Container Terminal Services, Inc.

Fernando was the last amateur to have won a pro tournament, dominating the field to rule the ICTSI-Riviera Invitational under tough condition last year.

Slowed down by a shoulder injury, Fernando missed a couple of tournaments this year and struggled in the last leg at ICTSI-Del Monte although he remains the player to beat among the group in the upcoming tournament.

Unlike in his Riviera feat, however, Fernando and his fellow amateurs see a tougher outing this time with majority of the big guns coming into the event in top form following a series of local and international tournaments.

They include leg winners Juvic Pagunsan, Artemio Murakami, Mars Pucay, Elmer Salvador, Marvin Dumandan and Benjie Magada along with Ferdie Aunzo, Jay Bayron, Antonio Asistio II, Rufino Bayron, Richard Sinfuego, Jun Bernis, Elmer Saban, Michael Bibat, Gene Bondoc, Anthony Fernando, Jerome Delariarte, Omar Dungca, Cookie La’O, Rey Pagunsan, Carito Villaroman, Danny Zarate and former RP Open champion Robert Pactolerin.

But focus will be on Angelo Que, fresh from his Selangor Masters victory, and Frankie Minoza, who is making a rare appearance on the local circuit 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.(pr)

Minoza joins title hunt in Aboitiz Cebu tilt

Frankie Minoza takes a break from his hectic European seniors tour and Japan PGA Tour campaigns as he joins the chase for top P200,000 purse in the Aboitiz Cebu Country Club Invitational unfolding Aug. 11 at the Cebu Country Club in Cebu City.

This marks the first time that Minoza will be slugging it out with the cream of the country’s crop since finishing joint sixth in The Country Club Invitational in January with the former two-time Philippine Open champion hoping to contend for top honors this time.

Although he now has a busy schedule on the seniors tour abroad, the 50-year-old Minoza has always made himself available to play on the local tour whenever he’s free, providing inspiration to the local pros, particularly the younger ones.

Minoza’s presence is also expected to add prestige to the P1 million event, which already teems with talent in Asian Tour regulars Juvic Pagunsan, Angelo Que, Tony Lascuna, Artemio Murakami and Mars Pucay.

Also in the fold are leg winners on the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour, headed by reigning RP Open winner Elmer Salvador, Marvin Dumandan and Benjie Magada and young turks Ferdie Aunzo, Jay Bayron, Antonio Asistio II and Rufino Bayron.

The tournament serves as the 10th leg of the 14-stage ICTSI-PGT circuit with Aboitiz Equity Ventures coming in as chief sponsor of the 54-hole championship organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

With Minoza and a slew of talents in the 80-player roster, a wide open battle is seen right in the first round of the tournament 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.

Others in the fold are Richard Sinfuego, Jun Bernis, Elmer Saban, Michael Bibat, Gene Bondoc, Anthony Fernando, Jerome Delariarte, Omar Dungca, Cookie La’O, Rey Pagunsan, Carito Villaroman, Danny Zarate and former RP Open champion Robert Pactolerin.

The event will be ushered in by the traditional pro-am tournament on Aug. 10 featuring officials and guests of the sponsoring Abotiz Equity Ventures and presentor International Container Terminal Services, Inc.

The one-day pro-am will also serve as tune-up for the leading pros as they try to familiarize themselves with the tight, challenging par-72 layout, back as host of the pro circuit after a long absence.(pr)

Davao’s Salvador seeks redemption in Aboitiz tilt

Dabawenyo Elmer Salvador vows to come out wary and wiser as he leads the chase for the top P200,000 purse in the Aboitiz Cebu Country Club Invitational which gets underway Aug. 11 at the Cebu Country Club in Cebu City.

Salvador blew what had been a won tournament in Bukidnon last month when he was disqualified, along with two others, on a final-hole infraction, enabling fellow Dabawenyo Cassius Casas to snatch the win in the ICTSI-Del Monte leg.

“Natuto na ako at babawi na lang ako sa susunod (I learned my lesson here and I will strike back),” said the soft-spoken Salvador.

He was a tap-in for birdie away from pocketing the top P200,000 at Del Monte when he agreed not to lift his ball and let Juvic Pagunsan and Richard Sinfuego pitch first from around the 18th green, an infraction that merited disqualification.

“That will never happen again,” said Salvador.

That should make the 41-year-old reigning RP Open champion the marked man in the P1 million event, sponsored for the first time by Aboitiz Equity Ventures which has linked up with the organizing Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. (PGTI) to stage this 10th leg of the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour.

Pagunsan and Sinfuego are also in the 79-player roster, both also out to redeem themselves with the former, the only double-leg winner on the circuit, playing in top form after falling short by just one stroke in the recent Brunei
Open.

Joining the title hunt are the country’s leading pros, including former RP Open winner Angelo Que and leg winners Artemio Murakami, Mars Pucay, Marvin Dumandan and Benjie Magada.

Meanwhile, the Cebu Country Club has been spruced up to championship condition in time for the three-day event presented by International Container Terminal Services, Inc. and backed by MJ Carr Golf Management,Jaguar, Land
Rover,Studio 23, Balls TV, Srixon/Cleveland Golf, Callaway Golf, Odyssey and GolfPunk and media partners Business Mirror, Inquirer Golf Monthly, A Round ofGolf, Pinoygolfer.com and Omnisource.

Also vying in the tournament are Jay Bayron, Ferdie Aunzo, Anthony Fernando, Elmer Saban, Jun Bernis, Antonio Asistio II and Rufino Bayron.(pr)