Celebs vie in ICTSI pro-am tilt

MANILA, Philippines - Tonton Gutierrez, Vince Hizon, Buboy Garovillo and Epy Quizon head the roster of celebrities competing in today’s pro-am tournament of the ICTSI Orchard Golf Championship at the Orchard Golf and Country Club’s Palmer course in Dasmariñas, Cavite.

The pro-am serves as a prelude to the 54-hole championship which fires off tomorrow with a star-studded cast, headed by Juvic Pagunsan, Angelo Que and Elmer Salvador, vying for the top P200,000 purse in the P1-million tournament.

Pagunsan, Que and Salvador also seeing action in the pro-am as they team up with three amateurs in the 18-hole tournament also serving as their final preparations for the 54-hole championship, the seventh leg of the 13-stage circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

Joining Gutierrez and company in the fold are Dingdong Avanzado, Gary Lim, Jake Roxas, Martin Jickain, Glydel Mercado, Nani Pascugin, Jeff Bernaldez and Levy Ignacio plus guests of the sponsoring ICTSI and its business partners.

The event also marks the first time that Orchard is hosting a big-time tournament since it staged the 1995 Johnnie Walker Classic, which featured the world’s top players, and the 1996 JW Super Tour.

Pagunsan hopes to re-display his top form against an equally talented field with the smooth-swinging shotmaker eyeing a successful week after finishing second to Thai Chawalit Plaphol in last Saturday’s ICTSI Mt. Malarayat Championship of the Mercedes Benz Tour.