Salvador learns lesson, seeks redemption

MANILA, Philippines - Elmer Salvador vows to come out wiser as he leads the chase for the top P200,000 purse in the Aboitiz Cebu Country Club Invitational which gets underway Aug. 11 at the Cebu Country Club in Cebu City.

Salvador blew what had been a won tournament in Bukidnon last month when he was disqualified, along with two others, on a final-hole infraction, enabling Cassius Casas to snatch the win in the ICTSI-Del Monte leg.

“Natuto na ako at babawi na lang ako sa susunod (I learned my lesson here and I will strike back),” said the soft-spoken Salvador.

He was a tap-in birdie away from pocketing the top P200,000 at Del Monte when he agreed not to lift his ball and let Juvic Pagunsan and Richard Sinfuego pitch first from around the 18th green, an infraction that merited disqualification.

“That will never happen again,” said Salvador.

That should make the 41-year-old reigning RP Open champion the marked man in the P1 million event, sponsored for the first time by Aboitiz Equity Ventures which has linked up with the organizing Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. (PGTI) to stage this 10th leg of the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour. 

Pagunsan and Sinfuego are also in the 79-player roster, both also out to redeem themselves with the former, the only double-leg winner on the circuit, playing in top form after falling short by just one stroke in the recent Brunei Open.

Joining the title hunt are the country’s leading pros, including former RP Open winner Angelo Que and leg winners Artemio Murakami, Mars Pucay, Marvin Dumandan and Benjie Magada.

Meanwhile, the Cebu Country Club has been spruced up to championship condition in time for the three-day event presented by International Container Terminal Services, Inc. and backed by MJ Carr Golf Management,Jaguar, Land Rover,Studio 23, Balls TV, Srixon/Cleveland Golf, Callaway Golf, Odyssey and GolfPunk and media partners Business Mirror, Inquirer Golf Monthly, A Round of Golf, Pinoygolfer.com and Omnisource.

Also vying in the tournament are Jay Bayron, Ferdie Aunzo, Anthony Fernando, Elmer Saban, Jun Bernis, Antonio Asistio II and Rufino Bayron.