Murakami sets course record 64, leads by 3

BALASABAS

MURAKAMI

CANLUBANG – Artemio Murakami rode on a rare seven-birdie binge at the back to fire a course-record eight-under 64 and post a three-stroke lead over Anthony Fernando at the start of the P1 million BDO Canlubang Golf Invitational at Cangolf’s south course here, Wednesday.

Murakami bucked a late tee-time and frolicked with a superb backside stint on a hot, wind-less day, closing out with a circuit-best 29 highlighted by a stirring seven-birdie run from No. 11 that turned an otherwise mediocre stint into a spectacular round.

The 64 came as a big surprise for the power-hitting Fil-Japanese shotmaker, who scored two wins last year, including the all-Filipino Philippine Open, but remained winless in the season marred by a series of missed cut stints on the Asian Tour.

“Tsamba lang (It was pure luck),” said Murakami, whose career-best, however, was a 62 when he reigned at The Country Club Invitational in 2009.

But this one should fire up the 28-year-old Murakami, whose best finish in this year’s ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour was a joint runner-up effort at ICTSI Sherwood won by Elmer Salvador in record 10-shot fashion. On the Asian Tour, where he scored a breakthrough win in the 2007 Johor Open, he missed the cut seven times in nine appearances.

He birdied No. 9 to snap a run of pars then after missing a 10-footer for birdie on the 10th, he knocked down a four-footer on No. 11 and went on a spree, including a 15-yard putt on the par-3 13th, to establish a new course mark.

Fernando, coming off a joint runner-up finish in last Sunday’s Sabah Masters, birdied the first three holes at the front and added two more for an opening 31. But after scoring an eagle-2 on No. 12 with a 56-degree wedge shot from 120 yards that spun back and disappeared into the hole, the former national champion made two three-putt bogeys for a 36 and a 67.

For a while, Jerson Balasabas appeared headed to gaining first day honors in the 54-hole event sponsored by Banco de Oro as he made a 68 in an early morning flight while Richard Sinfuego put himself in early contention with a 69.

But the duo had to give way to Murakami and Fernando, who shared the lead at six-under in one stretch until Murakami sustained his fiery charge and Fernando wavered on his homeward trip.

However, two of the fancied bets, who like Balasabas and Sinfuego call the par-72 layout their home, fell way behind with over-par scores with Mhark Fernando fumbling with a 7 on the par-4 16th for a 74 and Jhonnel Ababa closing out with a 42 at the front for a 77.

Ababa, coming off a six-shot romp over Mhark Fernando and Tony Lascuna at ICTSI Calatagan two weeks ago, birdied Nos. 14 and 15 to negate a bogey on the 13th but dropped three strokes in the first six holes at the front before fumbling with a triple-bogey seven on No. 7 for a 42.

Fernando, another favorite in the event sponsored by BDO, also made a seven on a lost ball after hitting a tree on his approach on the par-4 No. 16.

Seven players turned in one-under 71s, including Rey Pagunsan, Elmer Saban, Gene Bondoc, Robert Pactolerin, Richard Abaring and unheralded Terence Macatangay and amateur Alex Nallos while Ferdie Aunzo, Rufino Bayron, Tomokazu Yoshinaga and Gary Sales all matched par 72.

The tournament is backed by MJ Carr Golf Management, Inc., Srixon, Callaway, Unilab, Titleist, Sharp, Custom Clubmakers, Mizuno, PinoyGolfer.com, Inquirer Golf, A Round of Golf, Studio 23, Balls, and Dynamic Sports.(pr)

FERNANDO

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-Ledesma takes charge in Samsung pro-am

DAVAO – Elmer Salvador and Ludwig Ledesma combined for a two-under par 70 in tough condition to wrest a one-stroke lead over the Raul Miñoza-Bunny Abaño pair at the start of the Samsung-Emcor Davao National Pro-Am presented by Samsung at the Apo Golf and Country Club here, Thursday.
Salvador, who shot an eight-under 64 to finish second to Juvic Pagunsan in the ICTSI Apo Invitational three weeks ago, and Ledesma rallied with a 34 at the backside to emerge the leading pair in a 90-team starting field in the 54-hole P1 million tournament played under the alternate-shot format.
Raul Minoza and Bunny Abaño combined for a 35 at the front to finish with a 71 while only three teams matched par as the tour’s big guns struggled with their respective amateurs, who include leading players in the ranks, on a tight course made tougher and longer by overnight rains.
Antonio Asistio II and Brent Sumampong, and Jun Bernis and Toffee Tionko strung up identical 36-36 rounds while Ernie Rellon and top amateur Marcel Puyat, on a break from his studies at Stanford U, overcame a 38 at the front with a 34 for joint third.
In the hunt with 73s are the pairs of Eddie Bagtas-Aris Mata, Ramil Bisera-Toshiaki Shinmura, Boboy Jaraula-Raymond Jaraula, and Randy Garalde-Ryan Co, while the Jong Laput-Rex Goquinco and Dodot Ababa-Vincent Gumapac tandems stood at 74 and Larry Villasencio and Ariel Villasencio made a 75.
Pagunsan, winner of the ICTSI Apo leg of the Philippine Golf Tour the past three years, struggled in his partnership with Rico Cajili in the foursomes format, hobbling with an 82 to fall 12 shots off the pace.
Jay Bayron and Alemar Etrone fumbled with a 40 at the front and wound up with a 76 to join the group of Cassius Casas-Benjie Senining, Charles Hong-Zanie Boy Gialon, and Sonny Villaber-Gen Nagai.
“The course is tough due to rains the past few days,” said Casas, one of the local bets tipped to contend for the top P172,000 crown in the event sponsored by Samsung and held in coordination with top retail network Emcor.
Frankie Minoza and Ting Castillo sputtered at the back with a 41 but salvaged a 77, the same output put in by Tony Lascuna and Jun Serado, Richard Sinfuego and Bobby Iñigo, and Fernando Lumawag and Julius Susarno.
Mhark Fernando, coming off a big victory in the ICTSI Del Monte Classic in Bukidnon last week, also had an awful start with partner Bong Cabang as the duo made an 83.
Most of the big guns also wavered with homegrown bets Tony Lascuna carding a 77 with partner Jun Serado, Ferdie Aunzo and Monchit Mocay shooting a 78, Anthony Fernando and Larry Pasquil making a 79, and Jhonnel Ababa, winner of the ICTSI Iloilo stage, and Benjie Leparto had an 81 in a tie with Marvin Dumandan-Anthony Sasin and six others.
Other backers of the tournament are Kawasaki, Apo Golf and Country Club, Cargo Serv, Goetz, Transworld, Malayan Insurance, Dasia Security, LVL Construction and Vigor Construction while minor sponsors are Skygo, Camel, JD Alvarado Architects, RDV Printing, Koppel, Unicenter, The Hive, Business Mirror, Microtel Davao, Air Philippines Express, Footjoy and TItleist by Empire Golf, Mizuno, Custom Clubmakers, Glucoscare and Omnisource Int'l.(pr)

Star-studded Davao National Samsung pro-am unfolds

The P1 million Davao National Pro-Am unwraps on Thursday, Aug. 25, with eight of the top 10 players on the local tour’s Order of Merit ranking and a host of top amateurs, including a former national champion, vying for top honors at the Apo Golf and Country Club in Davao.

Juvic Pagunsan, winner of four of the first nine legs of the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour and the current OOM frontrunner, heads the chase for the top P172,000 purse in the 54-hole event presented by Samsung, hoping to keep his win streak at the quaint par-72 layout he has mastered the last three years.

The smooth-swinging Bacolod pro has ruled the ICTSI Apo leg for three straight years, including a four-shot romp over homegrown bet Elmer Salvador three weeks ago, making him the player to beat in the event held in coordination with leading retail network Emcor.

But Pagunsan needs to draw the best from amateur partner Rico Trajano in the alternate shot format where one has to set up a good shot for the other to produce a low score the way Edgar Ababa and Paul Echavez did in beating Dan Cruz and Jerson Balasabas by five in last year’s staging of the event.

Salvador, No. 2 in the OOM derby, is teaming up with Ludwig Ledesma, No. 3 Tony Lascuna is with Jun Serado, while No. 4 Jhonnel Ababa has partnered with Benjie Leparto.

No. 5 Mhark Fernando, fresh from his maiden pro victory at ICTSI Del Monte last week, has tapped Bong Cabang as his partner, reigning OOM champion Jay Bayron will team up with Alemar Etrone, while No. 9 Orlan Sumcad has partnered with Bien Cerbo.

Frankie Minoza, the former two-time Philippine Open champion, makes a rare appearance on a local tournament as he teams up with Ting Castillo in the event backed by Kawasaki, Apo Golf and Country Club, Cargo Serv, Goetz, Transworld, Malayan Insurance, Dasia Security, LVL Construction and Vigor Construction.

Other teams fancied to contend for the crown are Cassius Casas-Benjie Senining, Ferdie Aunzo-Monchit Macay, Marvin Dumandan-Anthony Sasin and Anthony Fernando with Atty.Larry Pasquil, a player to watch after a swing change.

Clyde Mondilla, the national champion in 2010 and spearhead of the Del Monte team that ruled this year’s PAL Interclub, will be with his father Ondoy while Jimmy Bayron and Peter Villaber tapped two lady partners in Sarah Ababa and Apple Fudolin, respectively.

The tournament is supported by Skygo, Camel, JD Alvarado Architects, RDV Printing, Koppel, Unicenter, The Hive, Business Mirror, Microtel Davao, Air Philippines Express, Footjoy and TItleist by Empire Golf, Mizuno, Custom Clubmakers, Glucoscare and Omnisource Int’l.

For details, log on to www.bluemansioncompany.com or contact the organizing Bluemansion Enterprise and Services Co. at 211-5952 or 0917-8121242.(pr)

Juvic cruises to 4-shot win over Salvador

Juvic Pagunsan displays his trophy as Jimmy Larrabaster (center), president of Apo Golf and Country Club, and Jules Domingo, general manager of DIPSSCOR, ICTSI Davao Unit, look on during awards rites of the ICTSI Apo Golf.

DAVAO - Juvic Pagunsan annexed his fourth leg title on the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour with a closing two-under 70 recently,  completing a wire-to-wire victory over a badly outclassed field that included the country's finest shotmakers in the ICTSI Apo Golf Invitational at the Apo Golf and Country Club here.
Not even Davaoeno's Elmer Salvador's bogey-free eight-under 64 could shake Pagunsan off his lofty perch as the ace shotmaker built a big cushion with a pair of 66s then played just good enough to add another P200,000 to his earnings and his third Apo crown to his trophy cabinet.
Unlike in his first two victories here, however, this one should rank high since he didn't only humble the cream of the crop with his solid all around game but outclassed them with a 14-under 202.
It was virtually over after 36 holes as Pagunsan took a whopping eight-shot lead over first round co-leader Jhonnel Ababa with Salvador too far behind at 10 adrift to ever mount a serious challenge over the last 18 holes.
Salvador did chop four strokes off Pagunsan's lead after nine holes with a 32 but ran out of holes and settled for the tournament-best 64 and the runner-up honors worth P120,000 with a 206.
Pagunsan fended off Salvador's threat with back-to-back birdies from No. 13 for that 70 while the former Philippine Open champion sustained his charge with four birdies at the back, including three straight from No. 16.
Ababa, who nipped Jay Bayron to record his first pro win in the ICTSI Iloilo Golf Challenge last month, shot a 69 and wound up third at 209 worth P65,000.
The win was Pagunsan's fourth after eight legs of the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. and sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc., firming up his claim as the most dominant player on the tour. He earlier topped the Royal Northwoods, Orchard and Eastridge stages of the circuit.
It also more than made up for his final day collapse in the ICTSI Negros Occidental Classic in Bacolod after dumping his caddie early in the round and settling for third place.
The victory also makes him the overwhelming favorite as the tour heads for Bukidnon next week for the ICSI Del Monte Championship.
Teener Miguel Tabuena turned in a second straight 69 and posted his best finish in a young pro career at joint fourth with Davaoeno Elmer Saban, who also made a 69, at 215. Each got P45,000.
Tony Lascuna wound up sixth with a 213 after a 68 while another homegrown bet Ferdie Aunzo shot a 70 and finished tied for seventh with Michael Bibat, who floundered with a 73 for 214.
Ruben Sasutil made a 71 and wound up tied with Danny Zarate (73) and Ramil Bisera (72) for ninth at 215.
The tour's other big guns finished way below expectations with Asian Tour campaigner Mars Pucay in joint 14th at 218 after a 71, Frankie Minoza (76) and Cassius Casas (73) in joint 17th at 219, Marvin Dumandan tied for 22nd at 221 after a 71, and Angelo Que, winner of the second leg at ICTSI-Mt. Malarayat, in share of 26th at 222 after a 73.
Rupert Zaragoza, meanwhile, firmed up his claim as the country's leading amateur as he took the honors with a 221 after a 71, beating Art Arbole, who skied to an 80 for a 229.[PR]

Davao's Salvador seeks redemption as ICTSI Eastridge unwraps

The P1 million ICTSI Eastridge Classic gets under way on Wednesday, June 1 with Davao City's Elmer Salvador and a slew of others out to slow down a streaking Juvic Pagunsan at the Eastridge Golf Club in Binangonan, Rizal.

Salvador is eyeing no less than a payback as he tries to even things up with Pagunsan, who rallied from four strokes down to snatch the ICTSI Orchard crown with a course-record setting nine-under 63 at the Palmer course two weeks ago.

That was Pagunsan’s second victory after three legs of the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour after the smooth-swinging former Asian Tour top rookie dominated the kickoff leg at Royal Northwoods with a wire-to-wire triumph last March.

Pagunsan actually missed the cut in the second leg at ICTSI Classic at Mt. Malarayat last April after turning in a pair of uncharacteristic rounds of 83 and 77. But he quickly redeemed himself in the P2.5 million ICTSI Orchard Golf Championship, stringing three-straight under par rounds to frustrate Salvador and rout the star-studded field in the richest leg on the 17-leg circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

Salvador, however, hopes to get back at Pagunsan at Eastridge, where he won when the mountain-top layout last hosted a big tournament in 2009.

The soft-spoken Davaoeno shotmaker, the 2009 Philippine Open and Order of Merit winner, nipped Danny Zarate in sudden death to capture the inaugural Saving Laguna Lake Pro-Am Invitational title two years ago.

“Kailangan pa ring mag-trabaho at magagaling ang mga kalaban (I still have to work hard since there are a lot of good players),” said Salvador.

The field includes veteran Asian Tour campaigners Tony Lascuna and Artemio Murakami, Marvin Dumandan, Mhark Fernando, Cassius Casas, Jhonnel Ababa, Ferdie Aunzo, Michael Bibat, Antonio Asistio II and Rufino Bayron while teener Miguel Tabuena also expects to figure in the race for the top P200,000 purse in the 54-hole event sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc.

Tabuena, 16, remains in search of a win after opting to join the pro ranks early this year although the former Asian Games silver medalist has failed to live up to the hype with mediocre finishes in the Philippine Open and at ICTSI Orchard.

But things and fortunes could change at the wind-swept, rolling par-71 layout with deep ravines and unpredictable putting surface.

The event is backed by MJ Carr Golf Management, Inc., Srixon, Callaway, Unilab, Titleist, Sharp, Custom Clubmakers, Mizuno,PinoyGolfer.com, Inquirer Golf, A Round of Golf, Studio 23, Balls, and Dynamic Sports.PR

ELMER SALVADOR IS SUPPORTED BY REDGOLF.

Juvic fires record 63, wins by 5; Dabawenyo finishes second

Juvic Pagunsan captured his second ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour crown in three months in style, firing a course record nine-under par 63 and romping off with a five-shot victory over erstwhile leader Elmer Salvador  of Davao City in the P2.5 million ICTSI Orchard Golf Championship at the Orchard’s Palmer course in Dasmarinas, Cavite, Friday.
Pagunsan spiked his brilliant, bogey-free round with an eagle on the par-5 No. 2, knocking in an eight-footer from a superb 6-iron shot from 192 yards that somehow portended the coming of an explosive day for the smooth-swinging shotmaker.
It did. And he didn’t only dominate the field. He routed them.
Four shots behind Salvador at the start of the final round, Pagunsan wiped out the deficit at the turn with a sizzling six-under 30 then went on to gun down three more birdies at the back of the par-72 layout he turned into a virtual playground.
His 63 gave him a 54-hole total of 15-under 201, beating Salvador by five and pocketing the top P450,000 purse, the richest ever staked in the four-year circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.
The nine-under card erased the previous course mark of 65 set by Swede Robert Karlsen in the 1995 Johnnie Walker Classic and matched by Salvador in the second round Thursday that put him three shots ahead of Tony Lascuna with 18 holes to go.
Salvador, the former Philippine Open champion and 2009 ICTSI-PGT Order of Merit winner, actually had a fine start of a 34 and fell into a share of the lead with the charging Pagunan then yielded it altogether with a bogey on the 10th.
“This is one of my best rounds,” said the six-year pro, a former Asian Tour top rookie. “After nine holes, I knew I could win it.”
Salvador lost his rhythm and poise in the face of Pagunsan’s sustained charge at the back, holing out with another bogey for a 38 and a 72. He settled for second at 206 worth P320,000.
Lascuna, three shots behind Salvador after 36 holes, carded a 71 and wound up third with a 208 and took the P210,000 prize while former two-time Phl Open champion and first day joint leader Frankie Minoza rallied with a 69 to finish solo fourth at 209 worth P110,000 in the event backed by MJ Carr Golf Management, Inc., Srixon, Callaway, Unilab, Titleist, Sharp, Custom Clubmakers, Mizuno, PinoyGolfer.com, Inquirer Golf, A Round of Golf, Studio 23, Balls, and Dynamic Sports.
Orland Sumcad also turned in one of his best finishes at No. 5, shooting a 70 for a 211, so did Gerald Rosales, another former Phl Open winner, who also carded a 70 for joint sixth with first day co-leader Jhonnel Ababa, who also made a 70, for 212s.
Anthony Fernando struggled with a 73 and wound up solo eighth at 213 while teener Miguel Tabuena, who made a 71, and Gene Bondoc, who shot a 73, finished tied for ninth at 214.
Zanie Boy Gialon, playing out of the ICTSI-The Country Club team, took the low amateur honors with a 215 after a 75 for joint 11th place with Michael Bibat, who had a 73, Ferdie Aunzo, who fired a 71, and Ross Bain, who shot a 70.
Jay Bayron, runner-up in last week’s Phl Open at Wack Wack, struggled with a 73 and wound up joint 15th at 216 with Charles Hong (69), Al Cruz (73), Angelo Que (74) and Antonio Asistio II (76). PR

Thais seek breakthru in Phl Open

A crack Thailand contingent, headed by Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Chinnarat
Phadungsil, will be in the hunt for the ICTSI-Philippine Open crown, hopeful of
its chances for a first-ever championship against local and other foreign aces
in the $300,000 event firing off May 12 at Wack Wack.
The Thais have been the Filipinos’ perennial rivals in amateur play but have not
figure well in the chase for the Phl Open title with Chawalit Plaphol losing
steam after sharing the opening day lead and eventually finishing in joint 17th
in 2008, also at Wack Wack’s east course.
Plaphol is back in the hunt next week, along with Aphibarnrat and Phadungsil,
two of Thailand’s current young stars, and a host of other Thai players seeking
to score a breakthrough win in Asia’s oldest and the country’s premier
championship which is making its return to the Asian Tour.
Presented by long-time golf patron International Container Terminal Services,
Inc. (ICTSI), the four-day championship serving as the seventh leg of this
year’s Asian Tour is sponsored by San Miguel Corp., Globe Telecoms, Lexus
and HSBC and backed by Srixon, Ricoh, BlackBerry, Splash Corp., Inetol,
Motorola, Lancaster Hotel and Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria and National Golf
Association of the Phils.
Phadungsil stamped his mark as one of Asia's rising stars when he claimed his
third Asian Tour title in the Queen's Cup in Thailand in 2009. He came close to
winning his fourth Asian Tour title last year when he moved one stroke off the
lead going into the final round of the Yeangder Tournament Players'
Championship, which was eventually reduced to 54 holes due to a typhoon in
Taiwan.

The 22-year-old Phadungshil burst onto the Asian Tour scene in style by emerging
the youngest ever champion in the Double A International Open in Bangkok at 17.
The 2005 world junior champion also earned his European Tour card in 2009 by
finishing joint 12th in the qualifier despite an opening 78.



Aphibarnrat, on the other hand, is one of the most exciting young players to
emerge from Thailand. He scored a career breakthrough win in the SAIL Open in
India last February after a number of near-misses on the Asian Tour.

Last year, Aphibarnrat, who turns 23 in July, enjoyed his best season by
finishing 10th on the Order of Merit with four top 10s, including third place
finishes at the Maybank Malaysian Open and Black Mountain Masters on home soil.


After a strong amateur career where he won the World Junior Championship twice,
Aphibarnrat stamped his class in the play-for-pay ranks. He almost secured his
first win in 2009 at the Worldwide Holdings Selangor Masters which he led in the
final round only to settle for second after Rick Kulacz snatched the title with
a closing 63.

Other Thais in the fold are Udorn Duangdecha, Pariya Junhasavasdikul, Thaworn
Wiratchant, Chapchai Nirat, Namchok Tantipokhakul, Kwanchai Tannin and the
veteran Prayad Marksaeng.

Angelo Que, who beat Malaysian ace Danny Chia to win the 2008 crown, heads the
local challenge along with last year’s all-peso Phl Open winner Artemio Murakami
and 2009 winner Elmer Salvador and Asian Tour regulars Juvic Pagunsan, Jay
Bayron, Mars Pucay and Tony Lascuna.PR

ICTSI backs 95th Phl Open at Wack Wack

The International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI), a long-time
patron of Philippine golf, underscores its role as the sport¹s chief backer as it sponsors the Philippine Open slated May 12-15 at Wack Wack¹s East Course in Mandaluyong City.

The $300,000 event marks the return of the country¹s premier golf
championship, and Asia¹s oldest, to the Asian Tour calendar after a two-year absence and will serve as the seventh leg of this year¹s circuit with ICTSI as the event’s presentor.

"It has been our continuing commitment to help our pros improve not only their respective games but also boost their confidence," said ICTSI chairman Ricky Razon. "By playing alongside the leading players in Asia and other regions will give majority of our players a different kind of challenge."

ICTSI, host Wack Wack and the National Golf Association of the Phils., the country’s governing body for golf, worked hand in hand to raise the minimum prize fund according to Asian Tour’s standards. The other chief backers of the Phl Open are San Miguel Corp., Globe Telecoms and HSBC.

The Asian Tour's minimum prize for each leg is $300,000 while an additional $200,000 is needed for operations.

ICTSI has been supporting a number of Phl golfers on the Asian and European Tours, including Angelo Que, Juvic Pagunsan, Artemio Murakami, Tony Lascuna and last year¹s ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour Order of Merit winner Jay Bayron.

The world¹s leading port operator is also at the forefront of local pro golf through the Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc., which organizes the year-long, nationwide ICTSI-PGT circuit. It has also supported amateur golf since 2005 and just last year, added the jungolfers to its fold.

Although Murakami took last year¹s all-peso Philippine Open title at Valley Golf Club in Antipolo, it was Que who last won the Phl Open as an Asian Tour event in 2008, beating a crack international field, also at Wack Wack. Elmer Salvador won the other all-peso Phl Open title in 2009 at Mt. Malarayat.

The Philippine Open will be held after the rich $2.8 million Ballantine¹s
Championship on April 28-May 1 in Korea, a joint-sanctioned event by the Asian and European Tours.(pr)

Top guns begin quest in P4.9M TCC Invit’l

An elite 36-player field, featuring the cream of the country’s pro crop, sets out in the rich The Country Club Invitational beginning Thursday, Jan. 27, each one raring to put on low scores on a tough TCC course that requires accuracy and mental toughness.
The last two results of the annual P4.7 million event ended in lopsided fashions with Angelo Que beating Juvic Pagunsan by five strokes last year and Artemio Murakami romping off with a record 13-shot rout over Que in 2009.
But this week’s battle for the top P1.4 million purse is tipped to go down to the last putt or perhaps wind up the way it did in 2006 when Pagunsan, a Bacolod native, nipped Frankie Minoza of Bukindon in a playoff.
For one, Que and Pagunsan will be the men on a mission, each seeking to become the first player to score three wins in what has become the country’s golfing major in terms of prize money and participation.
Murakami and former winners Tony Lascuna and Cassius Casas of Davao and Jerome Delariarte are also raring to score a repeat while Minoza and the rest of the field are going flat out to nail the big one.
That should make the first two rounds doubly interesting with the big guns, save for one or two, avoiding an early clash of will and shotmaking skills by landing in separate flights.
Que, who also ruled the 2007 staging of the annual event sponsored by golf patron and ICTSI chief Ricky Razon, is paired with Danny Zarate and fellow former Philippine Open champion Gerald Rosales in the 8:40 a.m. flight on No. 1.
Pagunsan, who also won in 2008, tees off next at 8:50 a.m., hoping to get going against Gene Bondoc and Ruben Sasutil while Murakami opens his bid at the back in the company of Richard Sinfuego and Albin Engino at 8:35 a.m.
Minoza, whose presence in the event has become an inspiration to the young talents, drew Lascuna and Ebarra Quiachon in the 8:30 a.m. flight, just ahead of Que and Pagunsan’s groups.
Others in the hunt are Dabawenyos Jay Bayron, who won last year’s Order of Merit crown, Marvin Dumandan, the winningest player on the tour last year with three victories and Elmer Salvador,  Mars Pucay,Benjie Magada and Antonio Asistio II.
No less than a strong start is expected from this talent-laden cast, each out to build confidence and momentum heading into the weekend play of the 72-hole championship, which also serves as the kickoff leg of this year’s ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour.
Meanwhile, this year’s circuit was launched during yesterday’s traditional pro-am tournament which featured a select group of pros and a banner roster of players from the business sector and other fields, headed by Razon.
The second placer will receive P690,000 while the third, fourth and fifth finishers will get P430,000, P310,000 and P230,000, respectively.
Also fighting for top honors are the country’s leading amateurs, headed by Asian Games silver medalist Miguel Tabuena, who also clinched a spot in this year’s Asian Tour recently.
Others in the fold are former Hong Kong Am Open winner Dante Becierra, Fil-Am Carl Santos-Ocampo, Jerson Balasabas, Jobim Carlos and reigning Philippine Ladies Open winner Chihiro Ikeda of Davao and many-time Junior World champion Dottie Ardina.(pr)

Murakami cops Open plum, foils Dabawenyo, Tabuena

Artemio Murakami kept the momentum of his fiery third round charge
and closed out with a bogey-free 68, bagging the Philippine Open title via a
two-stroke victory over last year’s winner Elmer Salvador of Davao City at the Valley Golf
Club course in Antipolo, Saturday.
Sustaining the form that netted him a seven-under 65 Friday and pulled him
within one off Salvador and amateur Miguel Tabuena, Murakami outgunned the
erstwhile joint leaders with four birdies in the first 10 holes then hung tough
with clutch pars to annex the crown on a 72-hole aggregate of 11-under 277.
He won P350,000, lower than the P448,500 bounty he pocketed in winning the
Mercedes Benz Tour leg at Manila Southwoods early in the year. But his Open romp
enabled him to join the elite circle of winners in the country’s premier golfing
event long considered as Asia’s oldest championship.

"Its all about focus,” said Murakami after completing his comeback from the back
of the pack fuelled by a stirring 65 in the third round. “I guess it was my
focus in the final two days that did it for me."

Salvador, who kept the rallying Murakami at bay with a gutsy 70 Friday, birdied
No. 2 but reeled back in the face of Murakami’s sustained charge. He birdied the
par-3 18th from 12 feet for a 71 and a 279, settling for a runner-up finish
worth P224,400.
Two-time champion Frankie Minoza, whom Murakami looks up to as idol and mentor,
shot a 70 for solo third at 280 worth P125,000.
"I'm happy with my effort," said Minoza, who is set to join the US Seniors
Champions Tour next year.
Murakami, who regained his Asian Tour card by topping the Qualifying School last
January but has struggled on the region’s lucrative circuit all season long,
calmly made a three-foot par putt on the 18th then raised his hands – the left
holding his trusted putter and the right his black visor – in triumph before a
big appreciative crowd that included Minoza, who has seen his ward blossomed
from a mediocre golfer into a seasoned player.
"It's a good feeling to finally win it," said Murakami, who birdied Nos. 3, 4, 6
and 10 to wrest control of the big number of title contenders.
He added that luck also played a role in his title win as three of his drives
bounced back onto the fairway after hitting the trees. “I guess I got a bit
lucky, too,” he said.
Murakami's win also foiled Salvador's bid to become the Open's first
back-to-back winner since the late Celestino Tugot won four straight from 1955.
"I tried my best to win it again this year but he (Murakami) really played
well," said the soft-spoken Salvador, who fell short of his bid to give himself
another big birthday present today the way he did last year when he topped last
year’s Open at Mt. Malarayat,

Tabuena, who humbled the pros with a 67 in the third round to tie Salvador at
the helm, cracked with a 73 and settled for fourth overall with a 281, still a
big feat for a 16-year-old wonder who won the silver medal in the recent Asian
Games.
Tabuena also bungled his chance to become the Open’s first amateur champion
since Hsu Sheng San of Chinese Taipei won in 1967.
"I missed the fairways early, maybe that cost me my chance," said Tabuena, who
ran away with the low amateur honors, four clear off James Wang.
"But overall, I'm happy with the way I performed considering what happened today
(yesterday)," he said.
Orlan Sumcad and Richard Sinfuego wound up joint fifth at 282 after a 72 and 71,
respectively.

Former champion Cassius Casas fired a tournament-best nine-under 63 to salvage
joint seventh with Elmer Saban, who matched par 72, at 284.
Rounding up the Top 10 with 285s were Joenard Rates (71), Wang (69) and Ferdie
Aunzo (69) while Marvin Dumandan and Mhark Fernando wound up with 286s after 75
and 73, respectively.(pr)

Tabuena gains lead share as Salvador fumbles

16-YEAR-OLD MIGUEL TABUENA.

Defending champion Elmer Salvador lost a four-stroke lead at the back
as he lost his putting touch for a 70, enabling youthful Miguel Tabuena to gain
a share of it with a solid five-under 67 in the third round of the Philippine
Open at the Valley Golf Club in Antipolo, Friday.
The Dabawenyo fumbled with three bogeys in the last seven holes and hobbled with a
37, blowing the chance to build a big cushion heading into the final 18 holes
for a clear crack at the first back-to-back Open feat in more than five decades.
Instead, his shaky windup allowed Tabuena to fuel his own bid of becoming the
first amateur in 43 years to win the fabled event as the reigning Asian Games
silver medalist continued to dish out fine form that impressed no less than
two-time champion Frankie Minoza. His 34-33 round tied him with defending
champion at the helm at eight-under 208.
It also set the stage for a wild, woolly final round chase in the P2 million
tournament sponsored by San Miguel Corp. with seven players, including two
former champions, getting a clear shot at the crown worth P350,000.
Artemio Murakami, going for his second major win this year after topping the
Mercedes Benz Tour leg at Manila Southwoods early in the year, fired the
tournament-best score of 65, an eagle-spiked round that pushed him to within one
at 209.
"I had a good start but I just couldn't sustain it,” said Salvador, seeking to
become the first player to win the Open back-to-back since the late Celestino
Tugot scored four straight from 1955. “But the good thing is I'm still in the
lead going into the final day."

The problem is a slew of others is out to foil his bid.
There is Tabuena, a teener dishing out a man’s game. Falling farther behind by
four at the turn, the 16-year-old jungolfer, two flights behind Salvador,
matched the defending champion’s back-to-back birdie binge from No. 10, rolled
in a delicate birdie putt on No. 14 before making four clutch pars for a 33 and
a 67.
Murakami, 27, likewise boosted his bid for a maiden Open title, bucking a bogey
start with six birdies and an eagle from a superb Hybrid second shot from 220
yards that landed six feet near the cup. He made that put on No. 7 then birdied
the next two holes for a 32.
After he birdied the par-5 11th and a string of pars, Murakami wielded his hot
putter once more, closing out with back-to-back birdies for that 65.
"I participated here with a goal of winning my first Open and I think I have a
strong chance of accomplishing it," said Murakami, who recovered from an opening
round of 74 with a 70 Thursday.
Frankie Minoza, who co-led the first round with 1990 champion Robert Pactolerin,
Orlan Sumcad and amateur Sonnie Boy Gialon, also bounced back into contention
with a 69 for a 210 for joint fourth with Sumcad, firing a 71, just two strokes
adrift.
“It’s anybody’s ball game,” said Minoza, who was so impressed with Tabuena’s
game.
"He can hit, his focus is impressive," said Minoza. "He plays like a veteran,
I'm surprised he's just 16 years old, he's really playing maturely."
Marvin Dumandan also shot an eagle-aided 66 to fan his title hopes at 211 in a
tie with Richard Sinfuego, who had a 70, while Pactolerin turned in a bogey-free
69 for a 212 in a tie with Elmer Saban, who also had a 66, spiked by a birdie on
the par-3 finishing hole.
Antonio Asistio II, who shared the second round lead with Salvador, had a
horrendous four-over 76 in a day of torrid scoring, tumbling down to joint ninth
at 214 Dimitrio Sanchez (70) and Joenard Rates (72).
The day, however, belonged to Tabuena, out to become the Open's first amateur
champion since Hsu Sheng San of Chinese Taipei won in 1967 when he upstaged
Tugot in a gripping finale. The Late Luis “Golem” Silverio was the first
Filipino amateur to win the Open in 1966.
"I'm happy with the way I'm playing, my driving and putting are doing the work
for me," said Tabuena. "I'm also excited and surprised that I'm in contention, I
never really thought I'll have this big chance of winning against the best."
It would have been a flawless day for Tabuena if not for an errant drive on No.
5, one of the rare times he had a mishit off the mound.(pr)