Gialon shoots record 66; Ardina leads with 68

Zanie Boy Gialon set a new course record of six-under 66 at Summit Point as he seized a whopping six-stroke lead over Rupert Zaragosa and Alex Nallos while Dottie Ardina showed fine form and fired a four-under 68 to pace the ladies side of the Samsung Amateur Open in Lipa, Batangas, Friday.

Gialon sizzled with seven birdies against a lone bogey, including four in a flawless stint at the backside of the rolling layout as he dominated the Championship Division on a hot, humid day and shattered the previous best of 69 by Omar Dungca during the 2008 Summit Invitational.

More importantly, it gave the top ICTSI-The Country Club bet a big cushion over the fancied Zaragosa as they head to the final 18 holes of the annual event presented by Samsung Phils. which also features the cream of the ladies crop and future stars.

Zaragosa, the reigning juniors and national champion from ICTSI-Cangolf team, mixed three birdies with the same number of bogeys and settled for a 72 in a tie with Nallos, who made five birdies but fumbled with five bogeys, while Banny Abaño of Del Monte carded a 73 in a tie with Koreans Hwang Kang Youl and Kim Chang Yeon from Riviera.

Art Arbole, winner of last week’s Cangolf Am Open, wavered with two 37s and dropped into a tie with five others in seventh place while Magno Arancon, also of Del Monte, and J. Austria shot 75s and Reymon Jaraula skied to an 80.

Ardina, enjoying top form, hit five birdies, including three at the front and back-to-back from No. 13 as she overcame a missed-green bogey on No. 8 for a 69, moving 18 holes away from annexing her third straight crown after ruling the Malaysian Juniors and the Thailand Amateur Open the last three weeks.

She led ICTSI teammate Chihiro Ikeda by two with the latter fighting back from a double-bogey mishap on No. 6 with birdies on Nos. 3, 9, 14 and 16 for a 70. Lovelynn Guioguio made a 71 while Sarah Ababa matched par 72.

Ardina and Ikeda, along with alternate Jayvie Agojo, are using the event as part of their buildup for next month’s SEA Games in Jakarta where the ICTSI-backed Philippine team is the defending champion and Ikeda the reigning individual titlist.

Miya Legaspi, the 11-year-old wonder, turned in a three-over 75 marked by two birdies as the five-time US Kids Golf champion tied for fifth with Sunshine Baraquiel, Chanelle Avaricio and Daniella Uy.

Meanwhile, A. Alegre and H. Ahn carded identical 75s to lead Class A of the event sponsored by Airphil Express, Mizuno, Custom Clubmakers, Footjoy and Titliest by Empire Golf, Loro, Endress+Hauser, Sweet Photolicious, Torch Resto Bar, Bluemansion Enterprise, GlucosCare, Omnisource International, Business Mirror and Inquirer Golf.

J. Seo made a 73 and posted a four-stroke lead over Dae Kim in Class B while T. Ilagan shot an 86 for a one-shot lead over V. Plata in Class C. G. Aguado took the Class D lead with an 89 while G. Villacencio and D. Salvador paced the ladies Classes B and C with 79 and 98, respectively.(pr)

Que cruises to 3-shot win vs Sumcad

Angelo Que receives his championship trophy from Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. general manager Colo Ventosa after ruling the ICTSI Classic at Mt. Malarayat Golf and Country Club.

LIPA City – Angelo Que clipped amateur Zanie Boy Gialon with a near-flawless backside stint while thwarting Orlan Sumcad’s own title bid with a closing three-under 69 for a three-shot victory in the ICTSI Classic at the Mt. Malarayat Golf and Country Club here, Thursday.
Not even a final-hole bogey could stall Que from annexing his second local crown early in the season as he safely secured the win with a stirring run of four birdies in a seven-hole stretch at the back, foiling at least three rivals for the top P200,000 purse.
He wound up with a seven-under 209, adding the crown to his The Country Club Invitational triumph in January and further boosting his confidence as he sets out, along with the other top Phl golfers, for the rich Malaysian Open next week.
“I’m happy that I already won two titles this year, it’s good for my confidence,” said Que, who tumbled down with a so-so 36 after nine holes marred by a double-bogey mishap on the par-5 No. 4.
But the long-hitting shotmaker, also priming up for next month’s Philippine Open at Wack Wack, rebounded with a birdie on No. 10, added another pair at Nos. 13 and 14 before hitting another birdie oin No. 10 to virtually wrap the second leg crown of the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour.
But Que’s margin of victory didn’t reflect the pressure he had to endure from a slew of pursuers, including Sumcad, in a flight ahead of Que who actually took a three-shot lead with two birdies after four holes and after Que double-bogeyed the par-5 No. 4.
But Sumcad wavered with a bogey on No. 5 and a double-bogey on No. 8 and fell behind by one again at the turn. He reeled farther back by four in the face of Que’s birdie-binge at the back but eagled the par-5 17th to move within two only to blow his bid with a closing double-bogey.
He settled for a 71 and a 212 and pocketed his biggest paycheck to date worth P120,000 in the 54-hole event sponsored by ICTSI, organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. and and backed by by MJ Carr Golf Management, Inc., Srixon, Callaway and Dynamic Sports.
"I knew it would be useless with a par on the 18th so I played aggressive and went for a birdie but I ended up in the bunker," said Sumcad in Filipino. "I was really going for the win that's why I tried to go for it."
Little known Arnold Villacencio, one shot behind Que at the start of the final round, also grabbed the lead at the turn with a 34 but fumbled with four bogeys against two birdies at the back for a 38 and 72, ending up joint third with rookie pro and former Hong Kong Amateur champion Dante Becierra, who rallied with a70, at 213. Each got P57.500.
Frankie Minoza, also one shot behind after two rounds, failed to get his game going, turning in a roller coaster round of six birdies against seven bogeys for a 73, finishing in joint fifth with last year’s ICTSI Del Monte leg winner Cassius Casas, who had a 70, at 214. They halved the combined P75,000 prize.
Ranged against Que and co-leader Erwin Vinluan, Gialon held his own and even wrested a one-stroke lead with a 35 at the turn. But the top ICTSI-The Country Club bet cracked under pressure at the back, making three straight bogeys from No. 11 and dropping out of contention.
He ended up with a 75 for joint sixth with teen pro Miguel Tabuena, who rallied with a 71 for a 215 although Gialon ran away with the low amateur honors, beating ICTSI Royal Northwoods winner Jobim Carlos, who had a 73-218, but three. Tabuena won P30,000.
Reigning Phl Open champion Artemio Murakami also failed to contend for the crown, hobbling with a 74 for solo ninth at 216 worth P25,000 while Erwin Arcillas (71), Marvin Dumandan (72) and Ernie Rellon (74) shared ninth place at 217 worth P23,000 each.
Vinluan, who found himself vying for the crown for the very first time, failed to handle the pressure and skied to a 40 after nine holes, finishing with an 81 to drop to joint 19th with Randy Garalde, who made a 71, at 221.PR

Que, 2 others surge ahead in ICTSI Classic

MINOZA

QUE

BAYRON

LIPA – Angelo Que wielded a superb all-around game to shoot a four-under 68, moving in front of a crowded leaderboard that included an unfancied Erwin Vinluan and amateur Zanie Boy Gialon in the second round of the ICTSI Classic at the Mt. Malarayat Golf and Country Club in Batangas here, Wednesday.
Que, who salvaged an even par 72 in late afternoon Tuesday, rattled off four birdies in a flawless frontside stint, surging from joint 15th to a share of the lead at 140 heading into the last 18 holes of the P1 million championship, the second leg of a 12-stage circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.
The back-to-back The Country Club Invitational champion actually hit another birdie on No. 12 but yielded back the shot when he flubbed an eight-foot par-putt on the par-3 15th, enabling Vinluan and Gialon to catch up with him.
Vinluan produced the most explosive windup in another challenging day, birdying the last three holes at the back to fire a 69 and find himself on an unfamiliar place – with the big guns of the circuit.
The former member of the national team actually made an eagle on the reachable par-5 No. 9 but that feat only atoned for his double-bogey mishap on No. 3.
With a 140, Vinluan is assured of a crack at the top P200,000 purse and a minimum of P7,500, his earning in each of the four times that he made the cut in last year’s edition of the tour sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc. and backed by by MJ Carr Golf Management, Inc., Srixon, Callaway and Dynamic Sports.
Gialon, playing out of the ICTSI-TCC squad, made a big start at the back then recovered from a shaky stint midway through the round with two birdies in the last four holes at the front for another 69 and a 140.
Frankie Minoza, on a break from the US Seniors Tour, made his presence felt after a so-so 72 in the first round as he turned in a three-under 69 anchored on a fiery stint of three birdies at the back.
But he loomed large at 141, just one shot off the pace, and in a tie with Sumcad, who flourished in exacting playing condition Tuesday but could only shoot a 72 despite an early morning start yesterday.
The 37-year-old Sumcad even settled for a par on No. 9 which he earlier eagled and gunned down just two birdies to negate a pair of bogey mishaps on a course he calls home.
Unheralded Arnold Villacencio threatened to gatecrash the big guns party as he carded 70 to join the fancied Minoza and Sumcad in fourth.
Ferdie Aunzo, on a slump after winning the ICTSI Royal Northwoods title last year, matched Que’s 68 as he jumped from a share of 30th to joint eighth at 143, three strokes adrift and in a tie with Ernie Rellon, who fired a 69, and rookie pro Dante Becierra, who made a 71.
Teener Miguel Tabuena struggled with a 73 but remained in the hutn with an even 144 for a share of 11th with Cassius Casas, who had  a 70, and Gerald Rosales and Rufino Bayron, who both matched par 72s.
Juvic Pagunsan, winner of the kickoff leg at ICTSI Royal Northwoods last week, failed to recover from an atrocious 83 in the first round as he hobbled with a 77 for a 160, his worst two-day total in a checkered pro career.
Pagunsan, who is leaving on Monday to see action in the rich Malaysian Open, blamed his poor game to a swollen right thumb as he missed the cut for the first time in a long, long while.
"It hurts really bad but I dont want to make it an excuse," he said.PR

ICTSI-TCC bets pace Mindanao Am tilt

Zanie Boy Gialon of ICTSI-The Country Club rallied with an eagle-spiked six-under 66 to grab a two-stroke lead over ICTSI-Cangolf’s Art Arbole as erstwhile leader Banny Abaño faltered with a 75 halfway through the Mindanao Regional Amateur golf championship at the rain-drenched Del Monte Golf Club in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon.

Six shots behind Abaño at the start of the round, Gialon made the most of the lift, clean and place format at the muddied layout and strung up four birdies on Nos. 3, 5, 7 and 18, highlighting his flawless round with a pitch-in eagle from 30 yards on the par-4 No. 6.

The 21-year-old Gialon thus seized the lead with a 139, including an opening 73, two clear off Arbole, who shot a two-under 70 for a 141.

Abaño, who led Del Monte to last week's PAL Men's Interclub romp with a 38-point production, struggled with a three-over 75 a day after firing a bogey-free 67 Tuesday as the club bet dropped to third with a 143 with two rounds left in the tournament which stakes all-expense paid stints to the Philippine Amateur slated at Riviera in Cavite next month.

Sarah Ababa, also of ICTSI-TCC, took charge in the ladies side of the event, carding a one-over 73 for a three-stroke lead over teammate Sheryl Villasencio and local bet Eva Minoza at the start of the 54-hole tournament, organized by the National Golf Association of the Phils. and backed by Del Monte, Callaway and Odyssey Golf.

Villasencio and Minoza turned in identical 76s while Daniella Uy, also of ICTSI, stood in fourth with a 77 followed by ICTSI’s Sunshine Baraquiel, Sun Choi and Kristin Leonen of Del Monte.

Clyde Mondilla, the reigning national champion, withdrew from the event to prepare for the first Montecillo International Junior Cup which starts March 7 at Mt. Malarayat in Lipa City, Batangas.

Leonard Lofranco, the other member of the victorious Del Monte team in the Interclub, shot a 71 for a 143 while Raymond Ja-raulla, also of ICTSI-TCC, matched par for the second straight day and stood five strokes off the lead at 144.

The top three players in the men's division that hail from the Mindanao region will get the free trips to the Philippine Am while the ladies side will offer two tickets to the national tilt.(pr)

Wang shows way with flawless 66

Riviera's Wang Jeung Hun outshot Asian Games silver medalist Miguel Tabuena in an early clash of the fancied bets, firing a bogey-free 66 and posting a one-stroke lead over Zanieboy Gialon at the start of the the WWWExpress-DHL National Golf Championships at Canlubang's north course in Laguna, Tuesday.
Wang, out to redeem himself from last year's final round infraction that cost him the championship here, hit two birdies at the front then drained four more at the back, including back-to-back from No. 16, for a 34-32 card on a nearly wind-less but hot and humid day.
That put the 16-year-old Wang, seeking a second straight championship here after ruling the Canlubang Am Open last year, on top of a strong field that includes the country's leading amateurs and a number of international players.
Gialon, one of the most promising players from the ICTSI-The Country Club squad, turned in the most impressive start of three straight birdies, added another one on No. 9 then knocked down two more birdies on Nos. 16 and 17 to negate a missed-green bogey mishap on No. 15. He had a 32 and 35.
Cho Dae Hyung, Wang's teammate at Riviera, launched his title bid at the backside of the par-72 layout, gunning down three birdies against a bogey then matched Gialon's three-birdie feat from No. 1 against another bogey on No. 5 for a 68, two shots off his fellow South Korean.
Tabuena, tipped as one of the players to beat in the four-day championship sponsored by WWWExpress and DHL, birdied the opening hole but had a rollercoaster round after dropping a shot on No. 5. He made a double-bogey on the par-3 No. 6, hit birdies on Nos. 11, 14 and 15 but reeled back with back-to-back bogeys on Nos. 14 and 15. He wound up with a 73 and fell to joint 13th with six others.
Earlier, WWWExpress and DHL chair Rod V. Feliciano; Joe Feliciano, president of WWWExpress, Cangolf chief Luigi Yulo and DHL officials Duncan Gates, Anthony Latham and Gerric Martinez, hit the ceremonial drive to kick off the 16th staging of the event organized and conducted by the National Golf Association of the Phils and hosted by Cangolf.
Meanwhile, Korea, bannered by the Riviera group of Wang, Hwang Kang Youl and Yeom Seo Hyun, paced the third RVF Cup or the 54-hole team championship, pooling a 138 for a six-shot lead over the Phl's Tabuena, Balasabas and Jobim Carlos, who assembled a 144. Singapore groped for form with a 149 total.
Unheralded Aristeo Mata, playing out of Aguinaldo, bucked a double-bogey mishap on No. 4 and finished with a 35-35 round, highlighted by three straight birdies from No. 14 to put himself in early contention with a 70 in a tie with top ICTSI-TCC bet Dante Becierra.
The former Hong Kong Open Am champion, out to check a long skid, mixed three birdies with one bogey at the front then parred the rest of the holes for a 34-36 while four players churned out 71 scores, including reigning national champion Clyde Mondilla.
Other one-under par scorers were Dino Villanueva, Korean Jung Han Min and last year's runner-up Jerson Balasabas while Art Arbole. Yeom Seo Hyun and Yemo Ka Hyun matched par 72s.
Joining Tabuena in the 73 group were Carl Ocampo, Park Gyu-ha, Hwang, Agustin Mata, Dave Hernandez and Singapore's Gregory Foo.(PR)

Dabawenyo, Asistio take charge

ELMER SALVADOR

ANTONIO ASISTIO

Dabawenyo Elmer Salvador, seeking to become the first player in more than five decades to win back-to-back Philippine Open crowns, primed up for his title-retention bid as he fired a second straight three-under 69 to share the lead with rookie pro Antonio Asistio halfway through the P2 million event at the Valley Golf Club in Antipolo, Thursday.
With former champions and seasoned campaigners Frankie Minoza and Robert Pactolerin dropping off the lead with over-par rounds, Salvador took charge with a six-under 138, sparking hopes for a first repeat winner of the fabled event since the late Celestino Tugot racked up four straight from 1955.
“"My plan is to play consistently," said the soft-spoken Salvador in Filipino, who beat Dutch Guido Van der Valk at Mt. Malarayat to capture last year’s edition of the event sponsored by San Miguel Corp.
But out to foil his bid is a slew of talented players, including Asistio, who is trying to become one of the youngest winners of the country’s premier golfing event. The former national team standout turned in the day’s best score of four-under 68 to tie Salvador at the helm, one clear of unfancied Orlan Sumcad.
“I’m hitting the ball really well. The best it has ever been,” said the 21-year-old Asistio, who cracked under pressure and blew his title bid in last month’s ICTSI-Canlubang Golf Invitational, the final leg of this year’s local circuit.
Sumcad, who shared the lead with Minoza, Pactolerin and Dabawenyo amateur Zanie Boy Gialon in the first round of the P2 million event organized and conducted by the National Golf Association of the Phils., stayed in the hunt for a maiden victory with a 139 after a 71 that included four birdies against a bogey and a double-bogey.
Rufino Bayron slowed down with a 71 after a 69 for solo fourth at 140 while Minoza faltered at the back with a 38 for a one-over 73 and slid to joint fifth with Richard Sinfuego (71), Ferdie Aunzo (70) and Asian Games silver medalist Miguel Tabuena (71).
"It's not that bad, there's still two rounds to go," said Minoza, winner here in 1998 at Riviera and 2007 at Wack Wack, who recently qualified for the US Seniors Champions Tour.
The 49-year-old Pactolerin, who topped this event exactly two decades ago at Wack Wack, struggled with a three-over 75 and slipped to the group of 143 scorers, who included Anthony Fernando (70) and Russell Honrubia (73).
The 22-year-old Gialon, meanwhile, failed to sustain his hot start and skied to a five-over 77 for a 145.
Five players pooled a 142 for a share of ninth with Rey Pagunsan and Richard Abaring matching par 72s, Joenard Rates carding a 73, Albin Engino firing a 70 and Rolando Marabe firing a 69.
A total of 72 players, including 58 pros, made the cut at 153 although the other fancied bets stood too far behind the joint leaders, including Artemio Murakami (70-144), Marvin Dumandan (69-145), rookie pro Mhark Fernando (73-145) and former champion Cassius Casas (72-147).
The event is backed by Pagcor, Orient Pearl, Amalgamated Motors (Phils.) Inc., Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Rudy Project, Yamaha Golf Car, Kilton Motor Corp, Phil. Span Asia Carrier Corp, E.L. Enterprises, EFC and friends of NGAP with Club Car Phls. as hole-in-one sponsor and A Round of Golf as media partner. Motorola is the event's 2-way radio supplier.(pr)

Minoza, Davao's Gialon share Open lead

                                                                    FRANKIE MINOZA


Two-time champion Frankie Minoza of  Bukidnon fired a four-under 68 to tie former winner Robert Pactolerin and two unfancied bets, including amateur Zanie Boy Gialon of Davao City in the lead at the start of the start of the P2 million Philippine Open, Wednesday at the Valley Golf Club course in Antipolo.
Minoza, riding the crest of a string of solid stints abroad, including a joint runner-up finish in Florida last month that netted him a berth in next year’s US Seniors Champions Tour, put in a six-birdie performance highlighted by a birdie-birdie windup.
That fiery finish more than made up for his disastrous double-bogey mishap on No. 14, putting him in the company of Pactolerin, who came out smoking in one of the morning flights, the power-hitting Orlan Sumcad and Gialon, one of the members of the ICTSI-The Country Club squad.
"I feel I'm hitting better now," said Minoza, who skipped the pro-am event Tuesday due to ear infection but was allowed to play this week.
Elmer Salvador, seeking to become the first back-to-back champion in more than five decades, put himself in early contention as he turned in a three-under 69 for a three-way tie for fifth with Joenard Rates and Rufino Bayron.
Young Miguel Tabuena, the silver medalist in the recent Asian Games, held his ground against Minoza and shot a two-under 70 to join the group of Antonio Asistio II, Russell Honrubia, Richard Abaring, Rey Pagunsad and Richard Sinfuego.
Sumcad, one of the less-fancied but long hitters on the local circuit, gunned down an eagle and made six birdies to negate his four bogeys in probably his best start in years.
But the day belonged to 21-year-old Gialon, a former caddy at Apo golf in talent-rich Davao who joined the ICTSI stable of coach Bong Lopez last year. He rammed in six birdies against two bogeys to find himself alongside the most feared man in the 123-player fold.
"I'm happy with my effort," said Gialon, who missed grabbing the solo lead after he three-putted the tough par-3 18th.
Minoza, who turns 51 late this month, played true to form in the early going and made the turn at four-under. But he got into trouble on No. 14 and holed out with a double-bogey on the 14th.
But the veteran campaigner recovered in time, coming through with birdies on Nos. 17 and 18 to regain a share of the lead in the event sponsored by San Miguel Corp. and backed by Pagcor, Orient Pearl, Amalgamated Motors (Phils.) Inc., Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Rudy Project, Yamaha Golf Car, Kilton Motor Corp, EFC and friends of NGAP and Club Car Phls. as hole-in-one sponsor and A Round of Golf as media partner. Motorola is the event’s 2-way radio supplier.
Pactolerin, whose trip here is backed by Royal Golf of Zamboanga, was likewise impressed with his strong opening day effort.
"I feel relaxed and I'm hitting the ball well," he said.(pr)

                                                     MURAKAMI

                                                                FERNANDO