Pucay shoots for rare ‘three-peat’

The slight earthquake that hit Cagayan de Oro yesterday did not rouse Mars Pucay from his sound sleep. Truly, no one else can have a better sleep than the pro who has yet to be beaten this year.

All the clubhouse talk is on Pucay and the flaming red hot water World Cupper will be aiming for a feat unheard of here recent memory — win three tournaments in succession — as the First Gentleman’s Professional Golf Circuit presented by San Miguel Beer moves on to the Del Monte Golf Club in Bukidnon for the ninth leg starting today.

Back-to-back victories at the Rancho Palos Verdes in Davao and last week’s Pueblo de Oro leg have gotten Pucay all fired up and the 32-year-old Mizuno pro is going for a sweep of the Mindanao swing of the circuit also supported by WG&A Super Ferry.

As the new leader of the Order of Merit and fourth different player to hold on to it, Pucay seems bent on giving it all in an unfamiliar territory where Frankie Miñoza started his legendary trail.

Miñoza, who quit after two rounds last weeks due to a painful wrist, will not be around to join the challenge to Pucay’s three peat ambition due to an earlier commitment he made in Manila.

But his brothers, pros Peter and Raul, and amateurs Paul and Ben, will be around to fight for family pride in the circuit organized by the Federation of Golf Clubs Philippines, Inc.

Of the other leg winners who are in the field, nobody is more aching to beat Pucay than Sherwood Hills leg champion Cassius Casas.

Wilson pro Casas has finished second to Pucay the past two weeks and his losses were all on bad holes, double-bogeys that gave Pucay the room to open the season with a couple of victories.

"Pipilitin natin ma-break ang trend, dalawang sunod parehong dikit," said Casas, who lost by one in Davao and by two like Richard Sinfuego in Pueblo.

Benjie Magada, who finally relinquished the OOM leadership last week, will be aiming to wrest it back which will be the same mission of Sinfuego, who won the Canlubang leg.

The Del Monte leg will complete the memorable southern swing of the First Gentleman’s Circuit before the countdown starts for the $200,000 Wack Wack Philippine Open slated in early March.

Angelo Que, the rookie pro who started his stint in the Asian Tour last week in the Caltex Singapore Masters after finishing second in the qualifying school, and Danny Zarate are also expected to return.