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)

Red-hot Juvic storms to 8-shot lead

DAVAO - Juvic Pagunsan eagled No. 18 for the second straight day and poised to rout the field for the third straight year with another 66, pulling away by eight strokes over erstwhile co-leader Jhonnel Ababa, who dropped five strokes in one hole in the second round of the ICTSI Apo Golf Invitational here, Thursday.
Showing his mastery of the tough Apo layout, Pagunsan duplicated his opening six-under par card as he continued to outclass a stellar field, including the homegrown bets, to virtually wrap up a fourth leg title just halfway through the 16-stage circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.
His 36-hole aggregate of 132 could well go down as the lowest in the three-year-old tour sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc. with the ace shotmaker from Negros expected to go for a new scoring record and post a new winning mark in one season in today's final round.
Marvin Dumandan won three leg titles last year.
Ababa, who matched Pagunsan's 66 Wednesday despite a late tee off, started out early yesterday but came up with just one birdie after seven holes at the front before fumbling with a 9 on the par-4 No. 8 when he drove into the hazard, hit his third shot into a stymied lie and took a penalty.
He then dumped his approach shot into the greenside bunker and three-putted although he made two birdies in the last six holes to salvage a two-over 74 for second at four-under 140.
Michael Bibat, the former Asian Games bronze medalist still in search of a big win in the pro ranks, shot a two-under 70 for joint third with former national team mainstay Jerson Balasabas, who matched par 72, at 141 while Danny Zarate turned in a second 71 for a 142 in a tie with Elmer Saban and Elmer Salvador, who carded a 72 and 73, respectively.
Teener Miguel Tabuena birdied the last three holes at the front for a 69 as he joined Zarate, Saban and Salvador in fifth.
Except for Artemio Murakami, who missed the cut pegged at 152 with an awful 80 for a 155, the top guns made it to the top 40 plus ties but all stood too far behind Pagunsan with one round left in the 54-hole P1 million event.
Frankie Minoza fired a 71 but lay 11 shots back at 143 for joint ninth with Ramil Bisera, who had a 70, and Anthony Fernando, who shot a 70, while Angelo Que, runaway winner at ICTSI-Mt. Malarayat, bounced back from an opening 78 with a 71 and made it to the final round at 149.
Art Arbole remained the top amateur at 149 after a 73, one shot ahead of Rupert Zaragoza, who stumbled with a 78 after a decent 72 for a 150.
Starting out at the backside, Pagunsan birdied Nos. 12, 13 and 16 before ramming in another eagle from just about the same distance as he did Wednesday.
He fumbled with a bogey on the par-3 No. 4, his third in two days, but recovered with another pair of birdies on Nos. 6 and 7 for a 35-31 round.
With an eight-stroke lead, Pagunsan is expected to cruise to another win in what could be a big comeback from his final round fold-up in Bacolod where he bombed out and wound up third with a final round 73 after leading the ICTSI Negros Occidental Classic for the first two days.
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)

Juvic repulses Dabawenyo, wins again

BINANGONAN, Rizal – Juvic Pagunsan overcame Dabawenyo Marvin Dumandan’s fiery rally that featured two eagles and battled back from one stroke down in the last four holes to eke out a one-shot victory with a closing 67 in the P1 million ICTSI Eastridge Classic here, Friday.
Pagunsan birdied No. 15 to draw level then made clutch putts in the last three holes to nip Dumandan, who three-putted No. 16 but shot a 65, and pocket his second straight victory on the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour and third overall in four tournaments.
He wound up with a nine-under 204 at the par-71 Eastridge Golf Club, taking another P200,000 that hiked his earnings in the early going of the 17-leg circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. to a whopping P850,000 total.
That included the P450,000 he won in the P2.5 million ICTSI Orchard Golf Championship two weeks ago where he closed out with a record setting 63 to beat Elmer Salvador by five.
He didn’t need another course mark to win again this week but instead showed resiliency in turning back a charging Dumandan and keeping his streak going in the circuit sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc.
"I just waited for my chance and when it came, I didn't waste time to grab it," said Pagunsan in Filipino, during awards rites graced by Eastridge general manager Erwin Temena.
Dumandan, three down behind Pagunsan and a flight ahead of the championship group at the start of the final round, moved within one with a 32 after at the turn, spiked by a pitch-in eagle on the par-5 No. 2. He hit another eagle on No. 13 to seize a one-stroke lead over Pagunsan, who later parred the par-5 hole.
But Dumandan, who withdrew at the Orchard due to chest pains, missed a crucial par-putt from six feet on No. 15 then flubbed a tying six-foot birdie putt on the 18th to yield the crown. He finished with a 205 worth P120,000.
“My par putt lipped out on No. 15 and missed a short birdie putt on the 18th,” rued Dumandan, the winningest player with three legs wins last year. "But I'm still happy with my performance."
Erstwhile co-leader Artemio Murakami matched Pagunsan’s opening 34 and actually wrested control with back-to-back birdies from No. 10 but double-bogeyed No. 14 and made back-to-back bogeys from No. 16 agaisnt a birdie on the 15th for a 70, dropping to joint third with Ferdie Aunzo, who rallied with a 66, and first round leader Arnold Villacencio, who fought back with a 68, at 207.
Ruben Sasutil shot a 69 while rookie pro Miguel Tabuena matched par 71 as they shared sixth place at  211 while Rufino Bayron and Richard Sinfuego fired identical 71s for joint eighth at 212. Gene Bondoc and Randy Garalde both turned in a 69 to share 10th place with Gene Bondoc (69), Randy Garalde (69),
Robert Pactolerin (70), Elmer Salvador (72) and Jhonnel Ababa (73) at 213.
The event was 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]

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

Top guns begin hunt for fame, fortune

The ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour kicks off another year-long circuit over the country’s top championship courses beginning Wednesday, March 30 with the fancied pros and rising stars slugging it out in the P1 million ICTSI Royal Northwoods Championship at the Royal Northwoods Golf and Country Club in San Rafael, Bulacan.

Davao's Marvin Dumandan, who nipped fellow Dabawenyo Tony Lascuna in a two-hole playoff to win the Northwoods crown last year, braces for another tight finish in the 54-hole tournament, which drew an elite cast that includes reigning Philippine Open champion Artemio Murakami, former Phl Open winner Elmer Salvador, Asian Tour campaigner Juvic Pagunsan and reigning Order of Merit champion Jay Bayron.

“I like my (title) chances this week. I’ve been hitting it well and with the right breaks, I think I have a good chance,” said Dumandan, who hopes to match or better his three-leg win last year, in Filipino.

But the power-hitting Davaoeno, who also won at Sherwood and Mimosa and finished second to Angelo Que in the recent The Country Club Invitational, faces a formidable challenge from the rest of the 84-player starting field all primed up for the top P200,000 purse.

The winner will also gain the confidence and momentum heading to next week’s second leg of the circuit sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc. and organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. at Mt. Malarayat in Lipa, Batangas.

The event also marks the pro debut of former ICTSI-The Country Club mainstays Peter Villaber, Dante Becierra, Charles Hong, Erwin Madrileño and Fil-Am Carl Santos-Ocampo and ICTSI-Cangolf bet Jerson Balasabas.

Other backers of this year’s circuit are 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 email golf@ictsi.com or colo@pgt.ph.

Also in the fold are former amateur hotshots Mhark Fernando and Jhonnel Ababa, Antonio Asistio II, Rufino Bayron, Jun Bernis, Michael Bibat, Cassius Casas, Rodrigo Cuello, Anthony Fernando, Cookie La’O, Benjie Magada, Robert Pactolerin, Rey Pagunsan, Gerald Rosales, Richard Sinfuego, Orlan Sumcad, Carito Villaroman, Erwin Vinluan, Danny Zarate and 2009 winner Ferdie Aunzo.

Also seeing action are the country’s leading amateurs, headed by reigning national champion Clyde Mondilla, Jobim Carlos, Sonny Villaber, Zanie Boy Gialon and Art Arbole, who are honing up for the Philippine Amateurs slated April 12-15 at The Riviera in Silang, Cavite.

After the ICTSI Classic at Mt. Malarayat on April 6-8, action shifts to the Orchard in Dasmarinas, Cavite for the third leg on May 18-20 followed by the ICTSI Eastridge Classic at Eastridge in Binangonan on June 1-3.

The ICTSI Mt. Malarayat Championship, also a regular leg on the ASEAN Tour, will be the circuit’s fifth leg on June 15-18 followed by the ICTSI Midlands Classic on June 29-July 1.

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

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

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

R Northwoods hosts PGT kickoff leg

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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)

Dumandan nips Lascuna in playoff, wins ICTSI crown

Davao's Marvin Dumandan rallied with a three-under 69 to force a playoff then birdied the second sudden death hole to nip fellow Dabawenyo Tony Lascuna and snatch the ICTSI Royal Northwoods Championship crown at the Royal Northwoods Golf and Country Club in San Rafael, Bulacan, Friday.

Dumandan bucked an errant drive to the rough on their third trip on the par-4 18^th with a superb approach shot that stopped eight feet off the cup, made the putt then watched Lascuna flubbed his own bid from six feet to clinch the victory.

“I just got lucky,” said Dumandan in Filipino after completing his stirring come-from-behind win worth P200,000 that snapped a six-month drought on the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour.

The ICTSI-Sherwood leg winner, who shared the lead with Lascuna with a course-record tying 65 in the first round but drifted three strokes back with a mediocre second day stint, actually fell farther back by five as Lascuna threatened to blow away the field with a back-to-back birdie start.

But Dumandan held his ground and strung up with a 35-34 card, hitting two birdies at the back to force a playoff as Lascuna sputtered after a solid start, fumbling with four bogeys against two more birdies for a 72.

Lascuna missed winning it outright after a bunker-to-bunker mishap on the 72^nd hole.

Both Davaoenos finished with 10-under 206s and parred the first playoff hole with Lascuna, who settled for P120,000, flubbing a birdie putt from eight feet and Dumandan from 12 feet.

It was an inspiring win for Dumandan, who led in the opening holes of the final round in the Aboitiz Invitational but cracked and wavered to finish third behind Jay Bayron and Juvic Pagunsan. He also came into this P1 million event in poor form, having missed the cut in all three legs on the Asian PGA Tour.

But he never got discouraged as he worked on his putting stroke that came to fore in the first round. Although he struggled with his putter in the second day, Dumandan regained his touch and banged in crucial putts in the final round, including the title-clincher on the second playoff hole.

“I always believe that putting will be the key to winning kasi hindi naman kami nagkakalayo sa palo,” said Dumandan.

Benjie Magada, who also outlasted Lascuna in the third playoff hole to capture the Orchard leg crown of the circuit, sponsored by ICTSI and organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc., shot the day’s best score of six-under 66 and finished tied for third with Robert Pactolerin, who fired a 67, and Elmer Salvador, who had a 71, at 209. Each received P51,600.

Richard Abaring finished sixth with a 210 after a 71 and took home P35,000 while Gene Bondoc shot a 69 for solo seventh at 211 worth P30,000.

Carl Ocampo Santos and Jobim Carlos shared the low amateur honors with a pair 71s as they wound up tied with pros Anthony Fernando (72) and Rey Pagunsan (74) for eighth at 213 in 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.(pr)

Lascuna wrests 3-shot lead; Juvic quits

Tony Lascuna slowed down a bit after a course-record tying 65 with a three-under
69 but still surged ahead by three strokes as first round co-leader Marvin
Dumandan struggled to match par 72 and Juvic Pagunsan withdrew due to allergy in
the second round of the ICTSI Royal Northwoods Championship in San Rafael,
Bulacan, Thursday.
Lascuna birdied two of the last four holes at the front to negate a double-bogey
mishap on No. 4 where he drove out of bounds, giving the dusky Davaoeno
shotmaker a 34-35 card and a 36-hole aggregate of 10-under 134 at the Royal
Northwoods Golf and Country Club.
That was three shots clear of Dumandan, whose putting turned sour on a day a
host of others gained ground with under-par scores heading into the final round
of the 54-hole tournament organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.
“I suddenly lost my focus as I hit my drive on No. 4. I could’ve pulled away if
not for that double-bogey,” said Lascuna in Filipino, referring to one of his
three black marks on an otherwise solid card.
He misread an uphill, par-putt on No. 10 and three putted the 16th but rammed in
seven birdies on another fine day, two short of matching his binge in the first
round that kept him in step with Dumandan.
Winner of the ICTSI-Sherwood leg, Dumandan grappled with his balky putter all
day, making 33 putts after a sterling 27-putt effort Wednesday.
He flubbed four make-able birdie putts and had one three-putt bogey, knocking
him off the lead with a 137 after a 72.
“They just wouldn’t fall,” rued Dumandan in Filipino.
Juvic Pagunsan, who stalked Lascuna and Dumandan with a solid 67 in the first
round, decided to withdraw before tee-off time due to rashes on his face, taking
away one solid contender for the top P200,000 purse in the P1 million event
sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc.
“He did everything properly. He didn’t do anything drastic,” said ICTSI-PGT
chief Colo Ventosa, referring to Pagunsan’s withdrawal which brought to mind the
latter’s caper at ICTSI-Forest Hills when he pulled out in the second without
informing the organizers.
Elmer Salvador, who ruled the ICTSI-Mt. Malarayat leg, fired a second straight
69 to put himself in contention at 138 while Rey Pagunsan, who lost by one to
Ferdie Aunzo here last year, carded a 70 for joint fourth with Richard Abaring,
who also shot a 70 for a 139.
Rufino Bayron turned in a three-under 69 and stood in sixth with a 140 while
Richard Sinfuego also shot a 69 for 141 in a tie with Anthony Fernando, who had
a 71, and amateur Dante Becierra, who also made a 71.
Former Philippine Open champion Robert Pactolerin shot a 68 but stood eight
strokes behind at 142 in a tie with amateur Jobim Carlos, member of the team
that won the Lion City Cup championship in Malaysia last week, who fired the
day’s best score of five-under 67, highlighted by four straight birdies from No.
2.
The tournament, the 11th leg of the 13-stage circuit, is 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)