Elmer rips rivals, rules ICTSI Classic

LIPA City, Batangas, Philippines – Elmer Salvador outdueled Jay Bayron and Ferdie Aunzo in a final day shootout among Davao shotmakers, closing out with a gutsy one-under 71 to capture the ICTSI Classic crown by two strokes at the Mt. Malarayat Golf and Country Club here yesterday.

Salvador, who fired a 67 to catch Bayron and Aunzo at the helm after 36 holes, rode on two clutch pars at the front and a birdie from long range on the 17th then watched his rivals crack under pressure to essay the victory on an eight-under 208 aggregate. He won P200,000.

Bayron, winner of the Forest Hills leg last year, took the lead with a birdie on No. 11 but took a triple-bogey 7 on No. 13 when he drove out of bounds. He finished with a 73 for a 210 and took the runner-up honors worth P120,000 in the 54-hole tournament which served as the second leg of a 12-stage circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc.

Aunzo, who scored his first pro win at Royal Northwoods last year, sputtered early with two bogeys in the first three holes but bounced back with three birdies in a four-hole stretch from No. 5. He actually seized the solo lead after eight holes but three-putted No. 9 for bogey, enabling Salvador and Bayron to regain the lead on a two-shot swing with birdies on the par-5 hole.

The former national champion blew it all up with a double bogey on the par-5 14th on a lost ball mishap, limping home with a 75 and dropping to joint fourth at 212 with Orlan Sumcad, who made a 73, in the event sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc. Each got P45,000.

Jun Bernis, who showed up the field with a 65 in the first round, moved to within one off the lead with a birdie on No. 1 but fumbled with four bogeys against three more birdies for a 72. He settled for solo third at 211 and took P65,000.

“I just stayed focused and made crucial pars on Nos. 4 and 5,” said the soft-spoken Salvador, who wrested the solo lead with a birdie on No. 3 then rolled in back-to-back putts from 10 feet from No. 4 to keep in step with Bayron.

But it was a 16-foot birdie putt on the par-5 17th that clinched the win for Salvador, who took a two-shot lead over Bayron and annexed the victory despite a final hole bogey, completing his mastery over practically the same field he dominated in ruling the Philippine Open here last December.

It was indeed an inspiring triumph for Salvador, who could only finish joint 10th in the kickoff leg at The Country Club Invitational last month as he tinkered with his downswing after topping the Order of Merit derby with two victories last year.

Reigning national champion Mhark Fernando rallied with a 70 while ICTSI-Cangolf teammate Jhonnel Ababa carded a 74 as they shared the low amateur honors at 215 in the tournament backed by MJ Carr Golf Management, Jaguar, Land Rover, Studio 23, Balls TV and Golf Punk. Arnold Villacencio also ended up with a 215 for joint 12th after a 75.

Bayron kept Salvador in check in the first nine holes, battling back from a stroke down with a birdie on the seventh to match Salvador’s 35. He actually grabbed the solo lead with a birdie on the par-3 11th but reeled back with a triple-bogey 7 on No. 13 when he drove out of bounds.

He moved to within one again with a birdie on No. 15 but flubbed a 10-foot birdie putt on the 17th, enabling Salvador to gain a two-shot lead to the 18th which he also bogeyed.

Michael Bibat shot a 71 and finished in joint sixth with Benjie Magada (74) at 213 worth P32,500 each while Tony Lascuña (73), Rey Pagunsan (73), Marvin Dumandan (73) and Mars Pucay (74) shared eighth place at 214. Each received P23,500.

Juvic Pagunsan, who set a new course record at the Mt. Lubo-Mt. Malinpuyo nines with an eight-under 64 in the second round, slowed down with a 71 and wound up 19th with Randy Garalde (71), while Frankie Miñoza matched par 72 and finished in joint 21st with Cassius Casas (70), Omar Dungca (75) and Ramil Bisera (77).