Top pros start hunt for P1.1M champ’s pot

How the pros tuned up for the first big tournament in the golf calendar this year will be known today when the country’s top shotmakers begin their quest for fame and fortune in the P3.8 million The Country Club Invitational at The Country Club layout in Canlubang.

And there couldn’t be a better way to start their hunt for the richest purse ever staked (P1.1 million) in pro golf outside of the Philippine Open than a fine start, making the opener of the four-day championship, already a major in terms of prize money and participation, truly a round to watch.

Tony Lascuna opens defense of the crown he won over Angelo Que last year and expect the dusky shotmaker to pour it all out after drawing the first flight with Danny delos Santos and Roger Antonio at 8 a.m. when playing condition is at its manageable level.

Gerald Rosales, the former Philippine Open champion, is in the second group with Cesar Ababa and amateur Michael Bibat, hoping to finally check a skid here and abroad.

Meanwhile, Jerome Delariarte served notice of his bid by topping the pro-am with partner Jason Lim where they combined for 61 to beat the Pactolerin-Agapito Capistrano tandem, which had a 62. Demetrio Sanchez and Ernest Escaler placed third with 63 in the event sponsored by Enrique Razon Jr., who put up the tournament in 2001 to honor the memory of his father, Don Pocholo, an avid golfer like him.

Focus will also be on Casas, who won the inaugural staging of this event but failed to dish out the form that netted him the crown in 2003 and missed the cut.

That was last year. For Casas has finally recovered his form, bearing, confidence and this he proved when he regained his card on the Asian Tour early in the year. In fact, the long-hitting Davaoeño ace is raring to reclaim his once-lofty ranking on the local circuit.

"Medyo naka-recover na. Maganda na uli ang kondisyon at sana tuloy-tuloy na ito," said Casas, the most dominant player during the Philip Morris days in the late 90s and early 2000.

But for one reason or another, he went on a slump, his game took a downswing and spent the last two years fighting not for titles but just to survive tournament cut-offs.

In contrast, Lascuna’s game has been in an upswing after beating Que by two strokes last year here, winning even small invitational tournaments and is favored to retain the crown with Que, the country’s current No. 1 player, out of the way after opting to play in China also this week.

But the elite cast is no easy prey with the likes of Mars Pucay, Danny Zarate, Richard Sinfuego, Rey Pagunsan, Robert Pactolerin, Ruben Sasutil, Rodrigo Cuello, Carito Villaroman and Benjie Magada also out to show their wares and the youthful brigade of Cookie La’O, Marlon Dizon and Delariarte expected to crowd the favorites.

Others seeing action are Cesar Ababa, Rey Alit, Eddie Bagtas, Ramil Bisera, Ramon Brobio, Roger Cabajar, Al Cruz, Rodolfo Cuello, Danny delos Santos, Edwin Estrera, Ronald Pactolerin, Peter Miñoza, Chuchu Martinez, Lito Rempojo, Elmer Salvador, Vic Santia, Edgar Ababa, Rodolfo Ardimer, Roger Antonio, Ricky Marcelo, Elmer Arcilla and Antolin Fernando.