MANILA, Philippines - National champion Clyde Mondilla returns to the scene of his biggest victory as he joins the cream of the pro crop and his fellow amateurs in the chase for the ICTSI-Del Monte Golf Championship which unwraps tomorrow at the Del Monte Golf Club in Bukidnon.
Mondilla, 16, flashed his familiarity with the quaint layout he calls home and routed fellow teener Miguel Tabuena, 9 and 8, in their 36-hole showdown for the national amateur championship last May. He is expected to figure prominently this week despite the presence of the big guns on the local pro circuit.
They include Juvic Pagunsan, who has been tipped as the player to beat in the P1 million tournament serving as the ninth leg of the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour, and the rest of the leading players in the Order of Merit race – Artemio Murakami, Mars Pucay, Jay Bayron, Elmer Salvador, Tony Lascuna, Ferdie Aunzo, Benjie Magada and Angelo Que.
The 31-year-old Pagunsan humbled a host of Davaoeño players to rule the ICTSI-Apo leg last week and become the first player to score a leg title repeat. At Del Monte, he will try to become the first to win back-to-back leg titles in the three-year old circuit sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc. and organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.
A host of talented players, however, will be out to foil his bid, including a crack list of amateurs that includes former champion Mhark Fernando, Apo leg low amateur Jhonnel Ababa, Jerson Balasabas and the members of the ICTSI golf team, led by Peter Villaber, Zanie Boy Gialon and Erwin Madrileno.
But focus will be on Mondilla, now toughened up by a series of tournaments after his RP amateur romp, including the just-concluded Junior World in San Diego. Mondilla will try to duplicate then amateur Rufino Bayron’s feat in 2008 when the latter nipped Jerome Delariarte in a playoff to capture the ICTSI Valley leg crown.
Still, Pagunsan will be the marked player in the 54-hole tournament with the ace Bacolod shotmaker, who also topped the ICTSI-Riviera leg last May, expected to flaunt his solid form right from the start for the needed momentum.
Jay Bayron and Que are also fancied to crowd Pagunsan and the other favorites for the top P200,000 purse after the two players missed the action in Apo to honor previous commitments, making this week’s battle an interesting affair.
The event is backed by MJ Carr Golf Management, Jaguar, Land Rover, Studio 23, Balls TV, Srixon/Cleveland Golf, Callaway Golf, Odyssey and Golf Punk and media partners Business Mirror, Inquirer Golf Monthly, A Round of Golf, Pinoygolfer.com and Omnisource.