Zarate eyes win No. 2 in PGT circuit

MANILA, Philippines - Danny Zarate hopes to come out of a two-month break in good form as he goes for a second straight victory in the second leg of the Philippine Golf Circuit’s ICTSI Eagle Ridge Invitational firing off Wednesday at the Eagle Ridge Golf and Country Club in Cavite.

Zarate outduelled Marvin Dumandan to rule the ICTSI Classic at Mt. Malarayat last February. The event served as the kick off leg of the revival of the pro golf tour, a 10-stage circuit sponsored by the International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) and backed by MJ Carr Golf.

But the fight for this week’s top purse of P200,000 is expected to be fierce with the rest of the 70-player starting field raring to slug it out for top honors in the 54-hole championship at one of the country’s most challenging courses.

They include Jerome Delariarte, Joenard Rates, Orlan Sumcad, Juanito Pagunsan, Erwin Arcillas, Cassius Casas, Vic Santia, Jomar Pepito, Jay Bayron and Christopher delos Santos, who finished in the top 10 at Mt. Malarayat.

Focus will also be on Ferdie Aunzo and Anthony Fernando, the former national amateur champions who are making their pro debut on local soil although they had already competed on the Mercedes Benz Tour abroad.

“I had been very busy during the break and only started playing last week so I can’t tell my chances,” said the 44-year-old Zarate, who manages a golf pro shop and a driving range with pal Carito Villaroman. “But I will try my very best to win again.”

Also tipped to crowd the favorites are Asian Tour regulars Tony Lascuna and Mars Pucay and veterans Elmer Salvador, Robert Pactolerin, Dan Cruz, Rodrigo Cuello, Danny delos Santos, Antolin Fernando, Ruben Sasutil, Richard Sinfuego and Villaroman.

A full pack of amateurs, headed by Tonton Asistio, Rufino Bayron, Jerson Balasabas, Jhonnel Ababa, Mhark Fernando and Dante Becierra, are also in the fold, hoping to spoil the big guns’ party in the three-day tournament.

ICTSI, the world leader in port management which helped boost the junior and amateur golf when it put up a team after the SEA Games here in 2005, is putting up the circuit to provide the local pros a series of tournament where they could hone their talent and skills. A three-leg tournament late last year, also sponsored by ICTSI, actually marked the revival of the local golf tour which boomed in the 90s and was last staged in 2002.