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)

All-star ICTSI-Apo golf unfolds

Juvic Pagunsan begins his chase for a record third straight leg crown on the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour but a host of ace shotmakers will also be in pursuit of the ICTSI Apo Golf Invitational crown in what promises to be a wide-open battle in the P1 million event starting Wednesday, Aug. 10, at the Apo Golf and Country Club.

Unlike in the last two Apo legs which he dominated, Pagunsan braces for a tougher challenge this week with the likes of Angelo Que, Frankie Minoza and Miguel Tabuena joining the star-studded roster that includes homegrown bets Jay Bayron, Tony Lascuna, Ferdie Aunzo, Marvin Dumandan. Elmer Salvador, Cassius Casas and Jhonnel Ababa, winner of the last leg at ICTSI-Iloilo.

Robert Pactolerin, who ended a long title-drought by beating Lascuna on the fourth playoff hole in Bacolod, launched his title bid with a win in Tuesday’s pro-am as he powered his team composed of Agustino Docdocil, Lor Alaan and King Rivas to victory with a 51.

Mhark Fernando and partners Andrew Bautista, Ronnie Magsico and Oscar Garcia came in second with 53 while unheralded Randy Geralde led his team of Bong Cabang, Jun Singson and Benjie Leparto to third place with a 55.

Que, Minoza and Tabuena have skipped the last four legs of the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. to campaign abroad and are all expected to figure in the fight for the top P200,000 purse on a tough course that requires accuracy and mental toughness.

“The fairways and greens are hard, but the key here would be on putting. I think a seven-under total will win,” said Dumandan, the winningest player last season with three victories but remains winless this year, in Filipino.

“We really have to step up, defend our turf and stop Juvic,” said Casas, who last won in ICTSI Del Monte last year, in Filipino. “But it won’t be easy, Apo is a tough course, it requires a solid all-around game to score here.”

That should make the first round worth watching with Pagunsan tipped to launch his three-peat bid the way he did in stringing back-to-back victories here the past two years.

The smooth-swinging Pagunsan used a near-flawless six-under par 66 in the first round to dominate the field and post a six-shot romp over Artemio Murakami and Jerome Delariarte in 2009 then scored a four-stroke win over Aunzo and Elmer Saban to become the first back-to-back leg winner on the three-year-old tour sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, inc.

Pagunsan, the current Order of Merit leader, is actually gunning for his fourth leg victory this year after reigning at Royal Northwoods, Orchard and Eastridge and is out to redeem himself from a final round meltdown at ICTSI Negros Occidental Classic last month.

Focus will also be on Que, who posted a runaway victory in the second leg at ICTSI-Mt. Malarayat but has opted to rest and campaign abroad after a so-so finish at ICTSI-Orchard Invitational, and Minoza, who last saw action at ICTSI-Orchard where he turned in a fourth place finish before resuming his campaign on the US Seniors Tour.

Tabuena is also raring to atone for a series of mediocre finishes abroad with the 16-year-old find hoping to come out strong early, build momentum and earn a crack at the crown in the 54-hole tournament, the eighth leg of the 16-stage circuit.

Pactolerin, who missed the cut in Iloilo, and Ababa, who nipped Jay Bayron in the first sudden death hole in Iloilo, are chasing their own dream of winning a second leg crown along with Rufino Bayron, Mhark Fernando, Anthony Fernando, Mars Pucay, Rey Pagunsan, Jerson Balasabas and Murakami.

The event is backed b 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)

Ababa nips fellow Dabawenyo

http://edgedavao.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4906:ababa-nips-fellow-dabawenyo&catid=46:games&Itemid=79

Rookie pro Jhonnel Ababa (right) receives the championship trophy from Iloilo
Golf and Country Club president Henry Go after nipping Jay Bayron in the first
playoff hole to rule the ICTSI Iloilo Golf Challenge at the IGCC course in Sta.
Barbara, Iloilo last Friday for first victory on the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour.

Davao's Bayron blows up field with 66, leads by 5

DAVAO'S JAY BAYRON

Dabawenyo Jay Bayron threatened to dominate the ICTSI Iloilo Golf Challenge with
a solid four-under 66, posting a whopping five-stroke lead over Jhonnel Ababa in
the second round of the P1 million event at the Iloilo Golf and Country Club in
Sta. Barbara in Iloilo City Thursday.
Crowded by veterans Cassius Casas and Danny Zarate at the top with 67 in the
first round, Bayron played true to form, ramming in five birdies in a 14-hole
stretch that started at the backside of the short par-70 layout. He missed
stretching the lead to six with a missed-green bogey on No. 8.
Still, his 36-hole aggregate of seven-under 133 put him way ahead of the field
with Casas and Zarate failing to match the reigning Order of Merit champion’s
surge and the rest turning in mediocre rounds in another hot, humid day.
“Hindi pa rin sigurado kasi mahirap din ang course at matigas ang green (Still
not sure, the course is tough, especially the greens), said Bayron, who skipped
last week’s ICTSI Negros Occidental Classic to compete on One Asia Tour where he
missed the cut.
He didn’t only make the cut this week but also looked headed for a rout.
Ababa took the challenger’s role at 138 after a 68 as Zarate fumbled with a
two-over 72 and tumbled to joint third at 139 with Gene Bondoc, who had a 68,
Danilo delos Santos, who carded a 70, and Randy Garalde, who made a 71.
Ababa, the former amateur hotshot, birdied three of the last eight holes at the
back to get a crack at the crown but would need nothing less than a spectacular
round to foil Bayron in the 54-hole tournament organized by Pilipinas Golf
Tournaments, Inc. and sponsored by International Container Terminal Services,
Inc.
Casas, on the other hand, struggled on the sleek putting surface all day, making
three three-putt bogeys while flubbing par-putts from as close as four feet to
drop to a share of 14th at 141, eight strokes off Bayron.
Casas hit just two birdies after making four Wednesday that propelled him to a
share of the lead while salvaging a good bogey on the par-4 No. 11 where he
drove out of bounds.
Antonio Asistio II, still searching for the proverbial killer’s instinct after
blowing at least two title bids on a final round meltdown, gunned down six
birdies against four bogeys for a 68 as he tied Jun Bernis, Ruben Sasutil and
Edgar Ababa, who all shot 69s, at 140.
Rookie Carl Santos-Ocampo charged home with a 68, Dante Becierra turned in a 71
and Rufino Bayron made a 72, to join the 140 group.
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)

ICTSI Iloilo Golf Challenge unwraps Wednesday

The P1 million ICTSI Iloilo Golf Challenge unfolds on Wednesday, July 20 at
the Iloilo Golf and Country Club with Robert Pactolerin going for a rare
back-to-back win, Jay Bayron of Davao looking for his first victory and Richard Sinfuego
out to reign at home.
With the rest of the starting 63-player field also raring to slug it out for top
honors, the chase for the P200,000 purse in the seventh leg of the
ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour is expected to go down-to-the-wire the way it did in
Bacolod last week.
Pactolerin came out of nowhere to fire a three-under 67 and force a playoff then
edged Dabawenyo Tony Lascuna in the fourth extra hole to rule the ICTSI Negros Occidental
Classic, ending a 30-month long title drought for the former Philippine Open
champion.
The 50-year-old Pactolerin hopes to sustain his charge in the absence of the
tour’s top guns although the field remains talent-laden with Bayron, the
reigning Order of Merit champion with two victories last year, resuming his
title hunt after a missed-cut stint in the One Asia Tour last week.
Sinfuego will also be a marked man in the 54-hole tournament, organized by
Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. and sponsored by International Container
Terminal Services, Inc., with the former national team mainstay expected to
flaunt his local knowledge of the par-70 layout where he honed his talent and
skills.
Meanwhile, Rufino Bayron primed up for the championship by leading his team
composed of Carlos Jalandoni, Vic Lagman and Douglas Aurelio to victory with a
54 output, nipping Randy Garalde and partners Seve Aguilar, Vic Sucilla and
Susan Divina Gracia in the countback in the traditional pro-am tournament
yesterday.
Arnold Villacencio and Youn Wang Sob, Kozono Takayuki and Kim Dong Hoon combined
for 56 to finish third in the event which featured guests and officials of the
tournament 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.
A number of emerging stars are also tipped to contend for the crown, including
Mhark Fernando, Jhonnel Ababa, Rufino Bayron, Jerson Balasabas, Carl
Santos-Ocampo and Anthony Fernando, each hoping to come out strong and build the
needed momentum.
Marvin Dumandan, winner of three legs last year, is likewise fancied to break
out of a long slump along with Jun Bernis, Cassius Casas, Gene Bondoc, Rodrigo
Cuello, Benjie Magada and Danny Zarate.
Juvic Pagunsan, who ruled three of the circuit’s first six legs but collapsed in
the final round in Bacolod, is skipping this week’s event along with Artemio
Murakami, Mars Pucay, Miguel Tabuena and Lascuna as they compete in the Selangor
Masters in Malaysia, held simultaneously with the ICTSI Iloilo Challenge, where
Angelo Que is the defending champion.
The big guns, however, are expected to be back in the ICTSI-PGT’s eighth leg at
Apo Golf Club in Davao on Aug. 10-12 where Pagunsan is the reigning back-to-back
champion. The circuit then hops to Bukidnon on Aug. 17-19 for the ICTSI Del
Monte Championship before heading to Cebu for the Aboitiz Invitational, a
72-hole championship which also serve as a leg of the Asian Development Tour.(pr)

Dabawenyo joins hunt at ICTSI Iloilo Classic

Davao's Jay Bayron resumes his campaign on the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour as he leads
the compact field vying for top honors in the P1 million ICTSI Iloilo Golf
Challenge firing off Wednesday, July 20 at the Iloilo Golf and
Country Club in Sta. Barbara, Iloilo.
Bayron, the reigning Order of Merit champion, is out to make up for a missed cut
stint in last week’s One Asia Tour in Indonesia with a solid finish this week
with majority of the top guns in Malaysia competing in the Selangor Masters.
The long-hitting Davaoeno shotmaker remains winless after six legs of the local
circuit, placing second to current OOM pacesetter Juvic Pagunsan at Royal
Northwoods and turning in so-so finishes at Mt. Malarayat and Orchard before
salvaging sixth place at ICTSI Mt. Malarayat Classic of the ASEAN PGA Tour.
But without Pagunsan, Tony Lascuna, Mars Pucay and Angelo Que, the defending
champion at Selangor Masters, Bayron is expected to contend for the top P200,000
purse in the 54-hole event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. and
sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc.
Still, Bayron will be facing a formidable cast that includes last week’s Bacolod
leg winner Robert Pactolerin, Marvin Dumandan, young turks Mhark Fernando,
Jhonnel Ababa, Jerson Balasabas, Anthony Fernando and local bet Richard
Sinfuego.
Meanwhile, the leading pros get the chance to test the course in the pro-am
tournament today (Tuesday) where they are paired with guests and officials of
the tournament 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.
While Bayron looms as the top favorite, Pactolerin is out to score a rare
back-to-back feat after he snapped a two-year title drought with a tough victory
in Bacolod where he had to fight back from four stroke down in the final round
and outlast Lascuna in a grueling four-hole playoff.
Dumandan, the winningest player last year with three victories, also hopes to
settle down with his game and vie for the crown after a shaky campaign in the
early going of the circuit with only a runner-up finish to Pagunsan at ICTSI
Eastridge to show so far.
But focus will also be on Sinfuego, who is expected to flash his familiarity
with the quaint par-70 layout and end a long title slump in the four-year old
circuit.(pr)

Juvic, Tabuena share lead with 68s

PAGUNSAN

BONDOC

BAYRON

Juvic Pagunsan lived up to the hype, firing a stirring bogey-free 68 in wet conditions to take control of the field in the rain-suspended first round of the $50,000 ICTSI-Mt. Malarayat Championship at the Mt. Malarayat Golf and Country Club in Lipa City, Batangas, Thursday.
Miguel Tabuena also charged home with a four-under card to tie the fancied Pagunsan at the helm, one stroke clear of Thai Panuwat Muenlek, in a solid start for the 16-year-old find seeking his first pro win on his rookie year.
Pagunsan holed out with a birdie on the par-5 ninth to slip past Thai
Panuwat Muenlek, who momentarily seized the solo lead with a three-under 69 until the two Filipino bets came through with their 68s to move on top.
Tabuena used a fiery frontside stint to put himself in early contention, birdying four of the last five holes for a 32. He slowed down a bit at the back, dropping a stroke on the par-5 14th but recovering the stroke with a birdie on No. 16.
Veteran campaigner Tony Lascuna birdied the par-5 17th to tie Jerson Balasabas, the former amateur hotshot, Mars Pucay, Gene Bondoc, the pro-am winner, and Thais Khrongpha Thanyakon, Prathummanee Atthaphon and Apichart Papitak and Dutch Guido Van Der Valk at two-under 70 in preferred lies rule while unfancied Erwin Arcillas turned in his best start in years – a 71 that tied him with another Thai bet Chaisri Borworn.
Joe Rates, Arnold Villacencio and Elmer Saban matched par 72s for joint sixth with Supravee Phatam and Ekkalak Waisayangkul of Thailand in the event sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc.
Inclement weather forced the suspension of the first round of the second leg of the ASEAN Golf Tour Wednesday with the starting 90-player field resuming play at 6:30 a.m. yesterday. The first half were to finish its second round late yesterday and the rest to resume early today before the third round action.
Marvin Dumandan closed out with back-to-back birdies at the front to salvage a one-over 73 in a tie with Robert Pactolerin, Jhonnel Ababa, Anthony Fernando and Thai Pornpong Phatlum while another shot farther back at 73 were Randy Garalde, Ernie Rellon, Mhark Fernando, Ferdie Aunzo, Antolin Fernand and Michael Bibat.
Elmer Salvador, winner of the Philippine Open here in 2009, sputtered with a 75 despite a closing eagle on No. 9 while Jay Bayron, who had three runner-up finishes in last year’s ASEAN circuit, wavered in his homeward trip at the front and wound up with a 39 for a 76.
Pagunsan, however, made sure things wound turn out right for the streaking Filipino shotmaker, who swept the last two legs of the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour.
He birdied Nos. 16 and 18 at resumption of play then made a couple of par-saving putts at the front before hitting another pair of birdies on Nos. 7 and 9 to preserve the lone bogey-free round in the tournament 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

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

Juvic seeks win No. 2 as ICTSI Classic reels off

Bacolod's Juvic Pagunsan, fresh from his two-shot victory over Davao's Jay Bayron at Northwoods last week, hopes to make it two-in-row in the early going of the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour as he heads the cast in the ICTSI Classic at the Mt. Malarayat Golf and Country Club on Tuesday, April 5.

Unlike in the ICTSI Northwoods, however, the 32-year-old Pagunsan will be taking on a strong field that includes back-to-back The Country Club champion Angelo Que, veteran Frankie Minoza, youthful Miguel Tabuena, Dutch Guido Van Der Valk and Canadian Rick Gibson.

The five are among the 105-player cast, including 14 amateurs, chasing the top P200,000 purse in the 54-hole tournament serving as the second leg of the 12-stage circuit put up by the International Container Terminal Services, Inc. and organized Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

But this one stands out among the rest, in terms of participation and prestige, with Minoza even taking a break from his US Seniors Tour campaign to be with the local aces and Que and Tabuena giving up their slots in the Panasonic Open of the Asian Tour, also slated this week in India, to join the title hunt here after missing the kickoff leg at Northwoods.

Van Der Valk and Gibson, meanwhile, provide the international challenge with the former out to atone for his failed bid in the 2009 Philippine Open at Mt. Malarayat and the latter renewing his ties with the local players.

But Pagunsan goes all out to frustrate all of them, including the likes of Tony Lascuna, Artemio Murakami, Marvin Dumandan and Bayron, as he tries to take full advantage of his early morning tee off at 7 a.m. in the company of Ruben Sasutil and Elmer Saban.

Bayron also seeks to come out with a strong start with a favorable starting time at 7:20 a.m. with reigning national amateur champion Clyde Mondilla and Gibson.

The 16-year-old Tabuena, in his first pro tournament on the local turf after debuting in the SAIL Open of the Asian Tour in India two weeks ago, also hopes to make the most of early tee-off at 7:20 a.m. on No. 10 against Antonio Asistio II and amateur Richard Joson.

The rest of the fancied bets have drawn late tee-offs when the dreaded Malarayat winds are likely to baffle their respective games although Que will have also to contend with Murakami and top amateur Jobim Carlos in the 11:40 a.m. group on No. 10.

Dumandan, winner of three legs last year, is paired with Van Der Valk and amateur Art Arbole in the 11:40 a.m. flight on No. 10 while Minoza will play alongside Michael Bibat and Solomon Gines at 12:30 p.m. on No. 1.

The other top guns competing in the event, backed by MJ Carr Golf Management, Inc., Srixon, Callaway, Dynamic Sports, are former national champion Mhark Fernando, Jhonnel Ababa, Gene Bondoc, Cassius Casas, rookie pro Carl Santos-Ocampo, Gerald Rosales, Benjie Magada, Ferdie Aunzo, Jun Bernis, Rufino Bayron and Anthony Fernando.PR

Pagunsan holds off Davao's Bayron, wins by 2

Bacolod's Juvic Pagunsan got back at Davao's Jay Bayron in scrambling fashion, matching the reigning Order of Merit winner’s birdie-par finish to annex a two-shot victory with a closing three-under 69 in the ICTSI Royal Northwoods Championship at the Royal Northwoods Golf and Country Club in San Rafael, Bulacan, Friday.

Pagunsan nearly lost a five-stroke lead in the last four holes as he lost his touch but the veteran internationalist checked his skid in time to repulse the charging Bayron and pocket the crown worth P200,000 with an 11-under 205 aggregate.

“I tried to apply the pressure in the early going since he also had a good start,” said the 32-year-old Pagunsan, who rattled off four birdies in a fiery shootout with Bayron in the frontside, in Filipino.

Bayron, who ran out of holes and settled for a 70 and a 207, also made four birdies at the front but dropped a shot on No. 4 and made the turn at 33 to fall two strokes behind.

Pagunsan, who lost the OOM crown in last year’s ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour after Bayron topped the final leg in Canlubang, sustained his charge at the back with birdies on Nos. 10 and 12 and moved ahead by five despite a bogey on the par-5 No. 13, which Bayron double-bogeyed.

But just when he thought he had the crown in the bag, Pagunsan, winner of the ICTSI-Apo and ICTSI-Riviera legs last year, stumbled with a bogey on No. 15, another par-5 hole, and then dropped another shot on the next.

That enabled Bayron, who also won the all-star Aboitiz Invitational in Cebu, to close within two as he birdied No. 15 for a two-shot swing and then parred the next from eight feet.

But Pagunsan quashed Bayron’s hopes by matching his rival’s birdie on the 17th and then holed out with a routine par to wrap up the crown in the P1 million event, the kickoff leg of a 12-stage circuit sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc. and organized by Pilipinas Golf Tour, Inc.

The win should make Pagunsan the top favorite in next week’s second leg at Mt. Malarayat where Angelo Que and teen sensation Miguel Tabuena are tipped to join the title hunt after skipping the Northwoods stage for various reasons.

“It’s really tough playing Juvic in the final round, especially if he’s ahead,” said Bayron, who took home P120,000, in Filipino. “But I’m happy with my performance.”

But the rest shouldn’t be as Mhark Fernando, the former national champion, finished six strokes behind Pagunsan at 211 despite a 70 for third. He won P65,000.

Gene Bondoc also wound up with a 70 to force a five-way tie for fourth at 212, including Anthony Fernando, who lost his way in the face of Pagunsan and Bayron’s torrid shootout in the championship flight, and limped with a 74.

Other 212 scorers were Cassius Casas, who had a 73, while rookie pro Carl Santos-Ocampo, who bounced into contention with 67 in the second round, also had a 73.

Jobim Carlos, the ace amateur who matched Pagunsan’s 66 in the first round, turned in a 71 to join the four pros at 212 while running away with the low amateur honors in the event backed by MJ Carr Golf Management, Inc., Srixon, Callaway, Dynamic Sports, Omnisource International, Unilab, Mizuno, Titleist.

Elmer Salvador, the former Phl Open champion and winner of the 2009 OOM crown, placed solo ninth at 213 after a 71, while Gerald Rosales, another former Phl Open winner, and Arnold Villacencio, who rallied with a 69, shared 10th place at 214.PR

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