Surprise win propels ‘Pacto’ to No. 7

Robert Pactolerin’s playoff victory over Tony Lascuna at the ICTSI Negros
Occidental Classic in Bacolod thrust the veteran campaigner to a spot in the Top
10 after languishing in the lower half of the Order of Merit ranking in the
early going of the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour.
The win, where he needed to battle back from four strokes down and endure four
extra holes to edge Lascuna for the top P200,000 purse, has put the former
Philippine Open and many-time Masters champion back in the hunt for the coveted
OOM crown with P232,000 earnings.
He remained miles away from runaway leader Juvic Pagunsan, but his recent
victory brought him from out of nowhere (No. 48) and into No. 7 heading to the
next leg of the 17-stage circuit in Iloilo for the Iloilo Golf Challenge
starting Wednesday (July 20).
“I really believe I still have what it takes to win,” said Pactolerin, who
turned 50 last July 3.
The victory not only snap a 30-month title drought that started after he won the
ICTSI Sherwood crown in 2008 when the International Container Terminal Services,
Inc. launched the pro tour with a three-leg series in late 2008. But it also
ended a string of missed cut stints this year, including the ICTSI Philippine
Open at Wack Wack where he reigned 21 years ago.
“I went through a lot of setbacks, missing the cut six times. But I tried to
keep fit and in shape. At my age, I need to be since there are a lot of young,
good players emerging,” said Pactolerin.
With majority of the leading players on the local circuit skipping this week’s
event for the Selangor Masters in Malaysia, Pactolerin will be taking on a bunch
of young and rising players as he tries to annex a second straight championship
in the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.
They include Mhark Fernando, Jhonnel Ababa, Antonio Asistio II, Jerson
Balasabas, Rufino Bayron, Jun Bernis, Michael Bibat, Gene Bondoc, Paul Echavez,
Anthony Fernando, Mhark Fernando and Marvin Dumandan.
Meanwhile, the traditional pro-am tournament, featuring guests and officials of
the event’s chief backers, will be held tomorrow (Tuesday) at the Sta. Barbara
Golf and Country Cub.
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)

‘Pacto’ edges Dabawenyo in 4th playoff hole

Robert Pactolerin nipped Dabawenyo Tony Lascuna in a playoff duel of players

seeking an end to a long title drought, clinching the ICTSI Negros Occidental

Classic championship with a birdie on the fourth playoff hole before a big

Friday crowd last week at the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club in Bacolod City.

Pactolerin fought back from four strokes down to shoot a three-under 67 and gain

a rare crack at the crown at five-under 205, the same output put in by Lascuna

who recovered from a disastrous frontside stint of 38 with two birdies at the

back to salvage a 71.

They parred the par-5, 618-yard No. 18th twice in the playoff then birdied the

same hole the third time, and fourth in the day, before Pactolerin set up

another birdie chance from eight feet from a superb approach shot for the

clincher, ending a long drawn out battle for the top P200,000 purse in this

sixth leg of the 17-stage circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

But it’s worth the wait and a well-deserved win for the former Philippine Open

and many-time Masters champion, who proved that he still got what it takes to

win.

“Meron pa (I still have the game). I always believe that I can still win for as

long as I keep myself in shape. All you need is discipline,“ said Pactolerin,

who also had to endure six missed cut stints this year – misfortunes that only

drove him to persevere, in Filipino.

While Pactolerin finally snapped a title drought that started after he won the

ICTSI Sherwood crown in 2008, Lascuna extended his title slump and playoff woes

as he also lost in a three-man sudden death in last year’s ICTSI Orchard

Championship.

“It’s okay, that’s golf. It’s still not my time,” said Lascuna in Filipino. He

missed extending the playoff to a fifth hole when he flubbed his own bid from 12

feet.

Juvic Pagunsan, who had lived up to the hype in the first two days, cracked in a

rare meltdown after a solid start, dropping four strokes at the back and blowing

away his bid for a fourth title with a 73.

He wound up third at 206 in a tie with former national team spearhead Mhark

Fernando, who matched par 70, and like in the second round, Pagunsan quickly

left as soon as he turned in his scorecard.

This time, nobody seemed to care.

For the day belonged to Pactolerin and Lascuna – the former coming out of

nowhere to contend for the crown for the first time in a long, long and the

latter fighting back from an awful start to gain another shot at the

championship.

Marvin Dumandan rallied with a 68 to tie unheralded Rodulfo Ardimer, who shot

the day’s best 66, at 209 for fifth while Jun Bernis moved to No. 4 midway

through with a three-under card but wavered with two bogeys in the last six

holes and settled for a 69 and even 210 for seventh.

Richard Sinfuego (71) and Elmer Salvador (69) wound up tied for eighth at 211

while Carl Santos-Ocampo (70) and Artemio Murakami (71) shared 10th place at

212.

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]

Nene Tanpinco, president of Negros Occidental G&CC and pro champion Robert Pactolerin.(pr)

Davao's Tony Lascuna is down on his knees after losing in a playoff.