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.

Juvic blows top but keeps lead with 67, holds off steady Dabawenyo

TONY LASCUNA OF DAVAO

JUVIC PAGUNSAN OF BACOLOD

BACOLOD – Juvic Pagunsan dumped his caddie after seven holes at the back but held on to fire a three-under 67 and hold off a steady Dabawenyo Tony Lascuña as he kept a one-stroke lead heading into the final round of the ICTSI Negros Occidental Classic here Thursday.

Disgusted over Joebert Miraveles’ ”wrong allowance” on a par-putt bid from six feet after dumping his tee-shot into the bunker of the par-3 No. 16, Pagunsan asked his caddie to go and went on to atone for an uncharacteristic 37 with a typical Pagunsan windup – a five-under 30.

That fiery closing stint included a stirring four-birdie string from No. 4 where Pagunsan had to pull out his driver, an iron and his trusted putter in between the putting green and the tee-box of each adjacent holes at the par-70 Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club to save his energy.

“Tingnan nyo na lang sa scorecard (Just look at my scorecard),” a fuming Pagunsan blurted when asked by mediamen for the traditional post-round interview.

But his card revealed the brilliance in the man as Pagunsan, who opened his backside stint with a bogey on No. 11, flashed resiliency with a birdie on No. 1 before knocking down birdies inside five feet from No. 4 literally by his lonesome. Counting his bogey-free 66 in the first round, the three-leg winner after five stages of the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour remained on top at seven-under 133.

But Lascuna kept Pagunsan within sight at 134, turning in a second straight 67 and staying on track of his own bid to end a long title drought.

“I’m on target but I still struggled on the slow surface,” said Lascuna in Filipino. He missed three birdie chances inside feet but expressed confidence in finally snapping a long title drought on the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. and sponsored by International Container Terminals Services, Inc.

His last win, interestingly, came at the expense of Pagunsan, whom he outlasted in a three-hole playoff in the 2008 Unity Cup tournament at Valley Golf Club.

“Di ko din talaga alam kung bakit nagalit na lang agad. Sinabihan na lang ako na magpahinga na,” said Miraveles,

Mhark Fernando, the former national amateur champion seeking a breakthrough win on the big league, matched Pagunsan’s 30 at the front as he shot one of the day’s best scores of 66 to join the chase for the top P200,000 purse in the P1 million event with a 136, four shots behind the leader.

The rest of the surviving 48-player field stood too far off the pace to pose as threats although veteran Robert Pactolerin flashed vintage form with a second 69 for fourth at 138.

Richard Sinfuego fired a 69 to tie Anthony Fernando (72) and Mars Pucay (71) at even 140 while Marvin Dumandan carded an even par 70 for a 141 and a share of eighth with Artemio Murakami (69), Gene Bondoc (72) and Jun Bernis, who rallied with the other 66.

Zanie Boy Gialon of ICTSI-The Country Club made a 72 for a 145 and remained the leading amateur at joint 24^th while 12 players made the cut at 148, including Arnold Villacencio (72), Herman Umadhay (74), Peter Miñoza (76), Paolo San Gabriel (71), Elmer Saban (73), Godofredo SInfuego (77), amateur Raymond Jaraula (75), Ramil Bisera (73), Neil Catalan (73) Albin Engino (73), Cookie La’O (78) and James Ryan Lam (78).

The event, the sixth leg of the 17-stage circuit, is backed by MJ Carr Golf Management, Inc., Srixon, Callaway, Unilab, BDO, Titleist, Sharp, Custom Clubmakers, Mizuno, PinoyGolfer.com, Inquirer Golf, Omnisource International, A Round of Golf, Studio 23, Balls, and Dynamic Sports.(pr)

Davao's Lascuna surges to 3-shot lead with fiery 66

Dabawenyo Tony Lascuna roared with an explosive windup at the front with a 31 en route to a six-under 66 as he slipped past erstwhile joint leaders Juvic Pagunsan and Miguel Tabuena for a three-stroke lead halfway through the rain-interrupted $50,000 ICTSI-Mt. Malarayat Championship at the Mt. Malarayat Golf and Country Club in Lipa City, Batangas, Friday.
Lascuna bounced back from a missed-green bogey mishap on No. 12 with back-to-back birdies from No. 13 then sizzled at the front with five birdies in the last six holes, including three straight from No. 7, that put the dusky shotmaker way ahead of the field at eight-under 136.
“I made a lot of putts and played some great irons shots,” said Lascuna, a perennial runner-up on the ASEAN PGA Tour still in search of the big one.
But the big ones are also in hot pursuit of the top $8,126 purse in this second leg of the ASEAN PGA Tour with Pagunsan and Tabuena, who shared the lead with a pair of 68s in the rain-suspended first round, slowing down with another pair of 71s despite improved weather conditions for 139s.
“In the morning I played great but it was hard going in the wet conditions. The course is playing long but as the greens are soft it means you can attack the pins. I just didn’t strike it so well in the second round,” said Pagunsan, who had four birdies against three bogeys after a bogey-free 68 in the rain-suspended opener.
Dutch Guido Van der Valk, another perennial contender on the local tour, and Mars Pucay, winner here in 2007, both fired 69s to join Pagunsan and Tabuena in second while four players, led by Jhonnel Ababa, stood at 140, four shots adrift of Lascuna.
Ababa, the former amateur hotshot seeking a breakthrough win on his rookie year like Tabuena, matched Lascuna’s flawless 31 at the front as he shot a 67 for joint sixth with another rookie pro Jerson Balasabas, who carded a second straight 70.
Thais Thanyakon Khrongpha and Panuwat Muenlek also stayed in the title hunt with a 70 and 71, respectively, as they tied Ababa and Balasabas in sixth place heading into the last 36 holes of the event sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc.
After two days of rains, the weather improved a bit although the field still played under overcast skies and preferred lies rules with 57 players making the cut at 150, including Cassius Casas and Benjie Magada, who barely advanced to the weekend play with 79-71 and 77-73, respectively.
 Arnold Villacencio, joint third in last week’s ICTSI Eastridge Classic of the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour, turned in a 69 for joint 10th with amateur Jobim Carlos, carding a 70, at 141, while Carito Villaroman, who fired a bogey-less 69 in the first round, fumbled with a 73 and dropped to 142 in a tie with Erwin Arcillas, who made a second straight 71.
Jay Bayron, joint ninth in the Pattaya Open, the first leg of the ASEAN PGA Tour, rallied with a 69 but stood too far behind at 145, nine strokes off the 40-year-old Lascuna.
With only half of the surviving field expected to finish the third round at presstime, the rest will resume theirs at 7 a.m. today (Saturday) with the final round firing off at 7:30 a.m., according to rulesman Henry Arabelo.
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

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

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

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)

Davao's Lascuna outguns Bacolod's Pagunsan to wrest control

Dabawenyo Tony Lascuna outsteadied Juvic Pagunsan of Bacolod and fellow Dabawenyo Ferdie Aunzo in their backside duel, ramming in two birdies and coming up with a couple of gutsy pars to shoot a one-under 69 and snatch a three-stroke lead in another topsy turvy day in the third round of The Country Club Invitational at the wind-raked TCC course in Laguna, Saturday. Lascuna birdied the long, tough par-4 10 to break out of a five-way logjam,came through with a slew of pars while his co-leaders got swept by the gusts then hit another birdie on No.16 to pull away from the star-studded field with a 36-33 card. That moved the dusky Davaoeno shotmaker 18 holes away from winning his second TCC crown with a 212, including a tournament-best 68 Friday that put him in a five-way tie with Pagunsan, Aunzo, Angelo Que and Marvin Dumandan. But his amazing backside performance, where he bucked the blustery wind with a solid shotmaking and steady iron game, virtually took the fight out of his erstwhile co-leaders, who faded out one after another and limped home with over par rounds in the toughest yet day of the tournament. With his two-over aggregate, Lascuna, winner of the 2005 edition of the P4.7 million event, pooled a 54-hole total of two-over 212, stood three shots clear of Que, the defending champion, who, in a flight ahead with Marvin Dumandan and Andrea Unson, regained a one-stroke lead at the turn with a 35 only to reel back with three bogeys in the last three holes in demanding condition. He wound up with a second straight 72 for a 215. Pagunsan, a two-time winner here like Que, stayed in joint second with a birdie on the par-3 17th but dropped to joint third at 216 with a bogey on the difficult par-4 finishing hole. Others with six-over totals were Frankie Minoza, who carded a 71, and Marvin Dumandan, one of the co-leaders halfway through the event put up by ICTSI chief Ricky Razon for the men of the tour but dropped out of the lead with a 73. Ferdie Aunzo, the other co-leader in the second round, tumbled down with a closing 40 and a 77, dropping into a tie with Omar Dungca, who made a 71, at 220. "Medyo sinuwerte lang at pumasok ang mga putts sa back nine (I just got lucky, my putts went in at the back)," said Lascuna, trying to match Que and Pagunsan's two victories in what has become the country's major golfing event. When asked what score would it take for him to wrap up the crown, Lascuna said an even par would do given the prevailing condition at the challenging layout. But with three of the most feared players chasing him, Lascuna would need a lower score to ensure the victory in the tournament also serving as the kickoff leg of this year's ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour. Aunzo and Dumandan were virtually out of the title race at 220, and so do the likes of Benjie Magada and Elmer Salvador, who both had 221s after a 70 and a 75, respectively. Unson, meanwhile, zeroed in on the low amateur honors despite a 77 as she pooled a 222,five ahead of Lovelynn Guioguio, who had a 227 after a 79.(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)