Davao's Bayron storms to 5-shot lead with 67

SILANG, Cavite – Jay Bayron flashed superb putting and turned in a solid four-under 67, pulling away with a five-stroke lead over Rey Pagunsan as the rest continued to struggle at Riviera’s Langer layout in the second round of the P1 million ICTSI Riviera Classic here.
Coming off a shaky first round 73 in tough condition late Wednesday, Bayron took full advantage of his early morning start on Thursday, ramming in six birdies inside 10 feet against a bogey from an errant drive for a 32-35 card as he moved closer to completing a back-to-back title romp in the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour.
With a 140 aggregate, the runaway winner of the recent Aboitiz Invitational presented by ICTSI in Cebu stood five shots ahead of Pagunsan, who rolled in a 20-footer for par on the 18th to preserve a closing 33 for a 72.
“I was so confident of my putting and made five sidehill-downhill putts,” said Bayron, who banged in a 25-foot birdie putt on No. 3 to get him into the groove. He made a couple of 10 footers on Nos. 7 and 9 then negated a bogey mishap on No. 11 with birdies on Nos. 13 and 16.
Pagunsan, who spent the early part of the season in Japan, recovered from a woeful 39 at the front, firing four bogeys in the last nine holes against a bogey for that 72 and a 145.
Like Bayron, the power-hitting Pagunsan leaned on his putting, sinking birdies inside seven feet on Nos. 10, 11, 13 and 15.
“I putted very well today (Thursday),” said Pagunsan. “But it’s nice to be in the hunt. This is my best chance to win in a long while.”
But he must beat the best in the field as Bayron poised himself up for another victory after closing out with a brilliant 30 to rout the field by five in the Aboitiz Invitational.
With Anthony Fernando wavering with a three-over 74 and dropping six shots behind at 146 and Jhonnel Ababa also carding a 74 for a 147, the battle for the top P200,000 purse in this 11th leg of the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. could be just down to the top two players.
But anything can still happen at Langer.
Antonio Asistio II and Cassius Casas, who shared the first round lead with 71s, struggled with their long game and made a pair of 77s as they tumbled down to 148 in a tie with last year’s national champion Clyde Mondilla, who carded a 74.
Marvin Dumandan bounced back a bit with a 72 after a 76 as he joined Casas, Asistio and Mondilla in fourth place while Rufino Bayron and Gary Sales both shot 72s to be at 149 in the company of Ramil Bisera (76), Jerson Balasabas (74) and amateur Art Arbole (75).
The event, sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc., 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)

Casas, Asistio share lead with 71s

SILANG, Cavite – Cassius Casas of Davao and Antonio Asistio II took different routes to produce the same results – a pair of 71s – that proved to be the best scores in a punishing day at Riviera’s Langer layout at the start of the P1 million ICTSI Riviera Classic here, Wednesday.
Unfancied Randy Garalde actually appeared headed for the first day honors in this 11th leg of the 16-stage ICTSI-Philippine Golf Circuit with a one-under card but succumbed to the demanding condition of the ravine-laced par-71 course and bogeyed the last three holes.
That enabled Casas and Asistio to snatch the lead with the former, seeking to end a year-long title drought, hitting three birdies at the back for a 38-33 and the latter, still in search of a maiden win in two years, birdying two of the last three holes at the front for a 36-35.
They took a one-stroke lead over Anthony Fernando, the former national champion also in pursuit of a breakthrough victory in the circuit who overcame two double-bogeys and two bogeys with four birdies for solo third at two-over 72.
Garalde’s closing 38 dropped him to joint fourth at 73 with fancied Jay Bayron, Jhonnel Ababa, Rey Pagunsan and Rami Bisera as the rest either groped for form or simply stumbled with poor rounds at one of the country’s toughest courses.
Bayron, coming off a big win at Aboitiz Invitational presented by ICTSI in Cebu three weeks ago, took his familiar role as leader with a one-under 35 at the back. But the reigning Order of Merit champion wavered with three bogeys in a birdie-less stint at the front.
Ababa, who nipped Bayron in a playoff to clinch his maiden win at ICTSI-Iloilo Golf Challenge, also had a decent 35 at the front but with a closing 38.
Gene Bondoc strung up nines of 36-38 for a 74 as he tied amateurs Clyde Mondilla, Art Arbole and Korean Wang Jeung Hun while Jerson Balasabas carded a 75 for a share of 13th place with Christopher delos Santos, Richard Sinfuego, Ebarra Quiachon, Dante Becierra , James Ryan Lam, Richard Abaring and another amateur Zanie Boy Gialon.
Mhark Fernando, one of the pre-tournament favorites to contend for the crown after ruling this event as an amateur in 2009, never recovered from a horrible 41 at the front and ended up with an 81. At joint 54th, the ICTSI Del Monte leg winner is in danger of missing the cut for the third time in 11 legs of the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.
Marvin Dumandan, another top player tipped to vie for this week’s title, double bogeyed No. 16 and limped home with a 76 in a tie with Danny Zarate, Rufino Bayron, Edwin Estrera and Charles Hong.
The event, sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc., 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)

Pros face acid test as ICTSI Riviera unfolds

DUMANDAN

ABABA

SILANG, Cavite - The men of the tour face a wide range of tests - from the tricky layout, the testy putting surface and the wind - as they resume their title chase in the P1 million ICTSI Riviera Classic, which unwraps on Wednesday, Sept. 14 at Riviera's Langer course here.

Davao's Jay Bayron is out to make it two-in-row after stamping his class with a brilliant final round blitz in the Aboitiz Invitational presented by ICTSI in Cebu three weeks ago, Mhark Fernando hopes to re-display his mastery of the par-71 layout while Marvin Dumandan is upbeat of his chances on a course he used to call home.

With Jhonnel Ababa, another Dabawenyo, and Robert Pactolerin raring to book their second leg titles on the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour and a host of others going all out for a first victory on a busy season, the battle for the top P200,000 purse in the 54-hole tournament organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. is indeed expected to be fierce.

But the field faces an assortment of challenges at the demanding layout which requires not just precise shot-making and steady putting but also mental toughness with the dreaded wind expected to come into play on most holes.

The absence of some of the tour’s big guns, who are competing in the Macau Open also this week, makes the title chase in this 11th leg of a 16-stage circuit, sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc., even tighter with Rufino Bayron and Anthony Fernando hoping to finally hit pay-dirt along with Antonio Asistio II, Carl Santos-Ocampo, Erwin Vinluan, Orlan Sumcad, Arnold Villacencio, Gene Bondoc, Elmer Saban, Jun Bernis, Jerson Balasabas and Dante Becierra.

Ferdie Aunzo, out to end a long title drought after scoring a breakthrough win at ICTSI-Royal Northwoods last year, is also tipped to contend for the crown along with veteran campaigners Cassius Casas, Richard Sinfuego, Jerome Delariarte, Benjie Magada and Rey Pagunsan.

Also in the fold is Dutch Guido Van der Valk, who figured in a five-man playoff, together with Elmer Salvador, in last Sunday’s Singapore Classic, who is expected to crowd the top local shotmakers in the event 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.

But focus will be on Jay Bayron, Mhark Fernando, Dumandan, Ababa, Casas, Rufino Bayron and Anthony Fernando, who are all out to boost their respective ranking in the Top 10 of the current Order of Merit of the ICTSI-PGT.

Jay Bayron, the reigning OOM winner, is in second place behind suspended Juvic Pagunsan with Ababa in fifth followed by Dumandan, Fernando, Casas, Rufino Bayron and Anthony Fernando.

Meanwhie, the tour heads to Sherwood Golf Club, also in Cavite, for the ICTSI Sherwood Hills Classic on Sept. 28-30 with the Villamor Golf Club debuting in the circuit in three years by hosting the ICTSI Villamor Classic on Oct. 19-21.

The circuit will also make its first stop at Calatagan Golf Club in Batangas for the ICTSI Calatagan Challenge on Oct. 26-28 before Canlubang hosts the penultimate leg on Nov. 9-11 with the ICTSI Canlubang Golf Invitational. The tour winds up with the ICTSI Wack Wack Championship at Wack Wack, which is also hosting a leg for the first time on Nov. 23-25.(pr)

BAYRON

FERNANDO

Fernando seeks to relive ICTSI Riviera glory

Mhark Fernando hopes to re-acquaint himself with Riviera’s dreaded Langer layout where he won a pro title as an amateur two years ago as he joins the title hunt in the ICTSI Riviera Classic which gets going Wednesday (Sept. 14). Fernando, then spearhead of the national squad, survived the harsh playing condition and humbled the star-studded pro field to win in Sept. 2009, beating Ferdie Aunzo, Richard Sinfuego and Edwin Sanchez by three. He topped the Phl team elims, also at Langer, one month later to underscore his mastery of the up-and-down par-71 course. With a confidence boosted by his breakthrough victory as a pro at ICTSI Del Monte Championship last month, Fernando looms as one of the players to beat in the 54-hole championship organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. and sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, inc. But the soft-spoken ace shotmaker opted to downplay his chances in the P1 million event serving as the 11th leg of the 16-stage ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour. “It’s always an anybody’s race when you play Riviera. But I like my chances although everybody can win there,” said Fernando. “It will depend on one’s form and the condition of the course.” Marvin Dumandan is the other player to watch in the event with last year’s three-leg winner, the former club pro, hoping to re-flash his familiarity with the hazard-laden layout, which changes in character in every twirl of the wind. Meanwhile, Fernando and Dumandan and the other leading pros get the chance to test the course as they play in the traditional pro-am tournament today (Tuesday) along with the guests and officials of the event’s chief backers, including 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. With the most feared player on the tour out for the rest of the season, the chase for the top P200,000 purse turns into anybody’s race with Jay Bayron also fancied to crowd Fernando and Dumandan for this week’s crown. Juvic Pagunsan, winner of four of the tour’s first 10 legs and the runaway leader in the Order of the Merit race, was suspended for the rest of the season for breach of PGTI (Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.) rules on players’ conduct, sending the battle for the OOM crown into a wide-open affair. Bayron, who frustrated Pagunsan with a final leg win at ICTSI Canlubang to snatch the OOM crown last year, now has P883,994 earnings, still way behind Pagunsan’s P1,474,604 winnings but confident of catching up with six more legs left in the circuit. Others tipped to figure in the title chase in the title hunt are leg winners Jhonnel Ababa (Iloilo) and Robert Pactolerin (Bacolod), Cassius Casas, Anthony Fernando and brother Rufino Bayron and Jerson Balasabas and Dutch Guido Van der Valk and Aunzo. Meanwhile, Elmer Salvador is just behind Bayron in the OOM race with P812,019 followed by Tony Lascuna (P764,219), Ababa (P561,456), Dumandan (P506,632), Mhark Fernando (P395,864), Casas (P314,254), Rufino Bayron (P311,654) and Anthony Fernando (P311,205).(pr)

Phl ladies collapse, lose by 1

HONG KONG – Thailand pounced on the Philippines’ backside meltdown to snatch a one-stroke victory with a closing 220 as the Filipina golfers fumbled with a 224 in the final of the Santi Cup of the Southeast Asian Amateur Golf Team Championship at the Clearwater Bay Golf and Country Club here, recently.
Dottie Ardina went over par for the first time, finishing with a 72 but which still stood as the team’s best score as Andie Unson made a 75 and Chihiro Ikeda blew it all at the back with a 41 for a 77.
Jayvie Agojo also wavered at the finish and didn’t count with a 78.
The Philippines, which led by three heading to the final day on rounds of 207, 209, 213, wound up with an 853 and lost by one.
Thailand didn’t do well either, shooting a 219 after a 210, 208, 214. But the Thais cashed in on the Pinays’ collapse in the closing holes with Pavarisa Yoktuan and Panitta Yusabai clinching the win with final hole birdies.
Pinrath Loomboonruang, playing in the final flight with Ardina, holed out with a bogey to make it a one-shot win as she matched Ardina’s 72 while Yoktuan and Yusabai carded a 73 and 75, respectively, for a 220 and an 852 aggregate.
The Thais moved within one after nine holes but ICTSI-backed bets surged to a running seven-shot lead after the top two Phl scorers totaled one-over par before Ikeda stumbled with a double-bogey on No. 13.
Thailand started the backside with a combined seven-over card but re-grouped as Loomboonruang and Phaewchimplee both birdied No. 15 to bounce back.
Ikeda earlier bogeyed No. 14 which Agojo double-bogeyed before the latter dropped two more strokes in the last four holes and was scratched out.
“We were up by 7 before Ikeda made a double-bogey on No. 13. They simply collapsed,” rued ICTSI golf and national team coach Bong Lopez. “We just gave it to them.”
It was a sorry fold-up by the Filipinas, whose campaign was sanctioned by the National Golf Association of the Phils. and supported by ICTSI and the Philippine Sports Commission, who took the lead right in the first round and kept it with gutsy rounds in the next two days only to disintegrate when the going got tough.
Ardina, who earlier strung up impressive rounds of 68, 69, 69, also missed clinching the individual honors with a 277, losing by one to Loomboonruang, who had a 276.
Malaysia finished a far third at 877 after a 223 while Hong Kong wound up fourth with a 221 for an 880 followed by Singapore (215-883) and Indonesia (233-916).
Meanwhile, the Phl juniors team made a 234 and finished fourth in the Lion City Cup topped by Thailand, which had an 869 after a 220, beating Malaysia (220-872) by three. Indonesia placed third with an 888 after a 226 followed by Singapore (233-904) and Hong Kong (245-935).
Andres Saldaña’s 77 became the Phl’s best score as Gio Gandionco had a 78 and Rupert Zaragoza made a 79. Clyde Mondilla was out with an 80 in the event the Filipinos ruled in Malaysia last year.
The Putra Cup team of Zanie Boy Gialon (71), John Kier Abdon (75) and Art Arbole (75) wound up sixth in a field of seven, pooling a final round 221 for an 883, nipping Myanmar, which had an 885 after a 228.
Singapore held off Hong Kong, 216-218, to clinch the crown with an 846 with the hosts setting for runner-up with an 850. Indonesia placed third with an 860 after a 219 followed by Malaysia (220-862) and dethroned champion Thailand (221-880).(pr)

PGTI suspends erring Pagunsan

The Philippine Golf Tournaments, Inc., organizer of the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour, has suspended ace Juvic Pagunsan from participating for the remaining legs of the circuit this year for breach of the PGT guidelines on professional conduct.

Pagunsan walked out of the recent Aboitiz Invitational presented by ICTSI in Cebu after refusing to abide by the club’s house rules. He had previously escaped sanction after pulling out of the ICTSI-Forest Hills Invitational in the middle of his round without informing the PGTI last year.

This time, the PGTI has had enough and threw the book at the talented but recalcitrant shotmaker.

In suspending Pagunsan, Colo Ventosa, general manager of PGTI, cited Clause 10 of the PGT guidelines: “The PGT will maintain a strict ‘no tolerance’ policy on any behavior unbecoming of a professional. It is the desire of PGT to hold tournaments in a highly professional manner. Competitors participating in these tournaments shall conduct themselves in the highest standards of courtesy and sportsmanship, which they are bound to honor at all times whether on or off the golf course.”

Provisions of the clause covers professional conduct, including failure to comply with appropriate Etiquette, Misbehavior, Injurious Conduct and other similar acts and omissions.

Pagunsan has won four of the first 10 legs of this year’s 16-stage tour and has been the runaway leader in the Order of Merit ranking. But without him in the last six legs, a wide-open race for the coveted crown loomed starting with the ICTSI Riviera Classic beginning Wednesday (Sept. 14) at Riviera’s Langer course in Silang, Cavite.

“We have been deeply concerned about your actions and behavior in various occasions, most recent of which was during the practice round of the Aboitiz Invitational in Cebu last Aug. 29, 2011, where you willfully refused to abide by the club’s house rules and walked out of the premises. Despite our guidance as your manager and promoter, and repeated stern verbal warnings on your acts in the past, our advice and instructions have fallen on deaf ears,” Ventosa said.

Before meting out the suspension, the PGTI conducted a thorough investigation on the complaints of Pagunsan’s actions and behavior. ICTSI, Pagunsan’s corporate benefactor, agreed to the suspension.

“As a Professional Golfer sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI), you are expected to always conduct yourself in a professional manner as you are representing the ICTSI brand,” Ventosa said.

The suspension, however, will not apply to Pagunsan’s overseas campaigns. However, the PGTI reminded him that in tournaments abroad, it expects him to conduct himself in high esteem especially since he represents, not only PGTI and ICTSI, but also the country.

Jay Bayron is expected to gain on Pagunsan’s suspension as he moved up to second in the OOM race after topping the recent $65,000 million Aboitiz Invitational presented by ICTSI, the first Philippine event to be featured on the Asian Development Tour.

From Riviera, the tour goes to Sherwood Hills, also in Cavite, for the ICTSI Sherwood Hills Classic on Sept. 28-30, then to Villamor, which will host an ICTSI-PGT leg for the first time on Oct. 19-21, for the ICTSI Villamor Classic. The Calatagan layout in Batangas will also make its debut on the circuit when it stages the ICTSI Calatagan Challenge on Oct. 26-28, while Canlubang will host the penultimate leg on Nov. 9-11 for the ICTSI Canlubang Golf Invitational before the tour winds up at Wack Wack on Nov. 23-25 for the ICTSI Wack Wack Championship.(pr)

Dottie, Javyie hike Phl lead to 3

HONG KONG – Dottie Ardina shot a 68 and Jayvie Agojo bounced back with a 70 as the Philippines survived another backside meltdown with a 213 to pad its lead to three over Thailand in the third round of the Santi Cup of the Southeast Asia Amateur Golf Team Championships here, Thursday.
Andie Unson made a birdie-less 75, the same output put in by Dabawenya Chihiro Ikeda, who sputtered with a 39 at the back, including a final hole bogey, with one of those five-over cards counting for the team’s 213 and a 54-hole total of 629.
Thailand, two shots adrift at the start of the round, pressed its bid at the back despite falling farther behind by five after nine holes. But Pavarisa Yoktuan failed to match teammates Pinrath Loomboonruang and Panitta Yusabai’s solid finishes and ended up with a 38 for a 74.
Loomboonruang rebounded from a triple-bogey 8 on No. 2 with five birdies in the last 14 holes, finishing with a 68 and preserving a one-stroke lead (204) over Ardina (205) in the individual race. Yusabai fought back from a 39 with a 33 for a 72 while Yoktuan counted despite a 74 for Thailand’s 214 and 632.
“Chihiro simply lost her focus at the back, missing a lot of putts but Dottie remains as solid as ever. Jayvie also made a good account of herself after two poor rounds while I hope Andie to bounce back tomorrow (Friday),” said national team and ICTSI golf squad coach Bong Lopez.
The ICTSI-backed ladies team, whose campaign along with the men’s and junior squads, is sanctioned by the National Golf Association of the Phils. and supported by ICTSI and the Philippine Sports Commission, gained three more strokes over Thailand at the turn with an even-par aggregate as Ardina made a 33 and Agojo and Ikeda shot 36s. Unson made a 37.
But Ikeda made three straight bogeys from No. 11 and Unson bogeyed three of the first four holes. Agojo hit a birdie on No. 14 and parred the last four holes for a 70 while Ardina bogeyed No. 13 but birdie the 16th to preserve a two-under round.
 “This is very interesting. I missed a couple of birdie putts and made some poor shots but overall, it’s another good round,” said Ardina in Filipino.
Malaysia improved to third but stood too far behind at 654 after a 212, making the final round a shootout between the Filipinas and the Thais. Hong Kong slid to fourth with a 659 after a 229 followed by Singapore (223-668) and Indonesia (226-683).
Meanwhile, the national junior team moved one rung up to fourth with a 222 for a 667 but virtually yielded the Santi Cup crown as it remained 18 strokes behind Thailand.
The Putra Cup team, on the other hand, remained in the cellar with a 662 after a 219 although it closed within Thailand, which has a 659 after a 222, in a surprise duel of the region’s top teams at the tailend of the seven-team field with Myanmar barely ahead of the duo with a 657 after a 223.
Singapore unleashed a fiery third round charge as four players broke par with Jerome Ng’s 69 failing to count. Marc Ong led the attack with a 66, Tze Huang Choo shot a 67 and Gregory Foo carded a 68 for a nine-under 201 and a 54-hole aggregate of 630 as the Singaporeans grabbed a two-shot lead over halfway leader Hong Kong, who slid to second with a 632 despite a solid two-under 208.
Indonesia was far behind in third with a 641 after a 216 while Malaysia lay just a stroke behind at 642 after a 215.
Lloyd Go, a revelation from Cebu, matched par 70 to emerge the top scorer for the men’s team with Zanie Boy Gialon and Art Arbole adding 74 and 75, respectively, and John Kier Abdon out for the third straight time with a 78.
Andres Saldaña, meanwhile, led the juniors squad with a 73, Gio Gandionco made a 74 and either Rupert Zaragoza or Clyde Mondilla’s 75 counted for the team’s 222 and a 667.
The defending champion got past Singapore (229-671) and Hong Kong (231-693) but was too way behind Thailand, which braced for a final round shootout with Malaysia with a 649 after a 220. The Malaysians rallied with a 213 to move within three at 652. Indonesia is in third with a 662 after a 223.(pr)