Dumandan targets second win as ICTSI-RP golf tour kicks off

MANILA, Philippines - Marvin Dumandan tries to annex a second straight championship against an expected charge by an equally talented field as the Apo Classic, the third leg of the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour, begins today at the Apo Golf and Country Club in Davao City.

Dumandan hopes to dish out the same form he showed in beating the field under severe playing condition and topping the ICTSI-Eagle Ridge leg last April as he heads the star-studded cast chasing the top P200,000 prize in the 54-hole tournament.

The long-hitting Dumandan, who also finished second to Danny Zarate in the kickoff leg of this year’s tour at Mt. Malarayat to lead the Order of Merit race, is actually the defending champion at Apo, having won the last of the three-stage tour late last year that served as a prelude to this year’s 10-leg circuit.

But he will be challenged by a host of ace shotmakers, including Juvic Pagunsan, Artemio Murakami, Tony Lascuña and Mars Pucay, who are all taking time out from their Asian Tour campaign to join the hunt for top honors in the event sponsored by the International Container Terminal Services, Inc.

The local talents are expected to have the inside track in the P1 million event as the likes of Jay Bayron, Cassius Casas, Elmer Salvador, Ramil Bisera, Elmer Saban, Lascuña and Dumandan try to bank on their familiarity with the hazard-laden, tree-lined course with huge, flat but bunker-guarded greens.

An 18-hole pro-am tournament, which featured the leading pros and ICTSI guests and sponsors of the event, including Pisanti, The Country Club, Srixon, FAMI, Business Mirror, Motorola, Omnisource and Pepsico, was held Tuesday.

Others tipped to contend for the crown are Robert Pactolerin, Rey Pagunsan, Carito Villaroman, Michael Bibat, Erwin Vinluan, Cookie La’O, Jerome Delariarte, Richard Sinfuego and Benjie Magada and brand new pros Ferdie Aunzo and Anthony Fernando.

Also seeing action are some of the country’s top amateurs, including Miko Alejandro, Dante Becierra, Brent Sumampong, Art Arbole, Peter Villaber, Dino Villanueva, Zanie Boy Gialon and Alexes Nallos.

A long time patron of RP golf, ICTSI is playing a major role in reviving the pro circuit along with MJCarr Golf Management, which also manages some of the top golf courses around Manila.

From Apo, the tour will go to Cagayan de Oro next week for the fourth leg – the ICTSI Pueblo de Oro Championship on July 8-10 – while Sherwood Hills in Cavite will stage the fifth leg on July 27-31 with the ICTSI Sherwood Hills Classic.