Dumandan chases 3rd ICTSI Tour title

MANILA, Philippines - Marvin Dumandan tries to become the first back-to-back winner on the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour as he heads the chase for top honors sans some of the big guns in the P1 million ICTSI Mimosa Golf Challenge firing off today at the Mimosa Golf and Country Club in Clark, Pampanga.

Dumandan, who nipped Tony Lascuña on the second playoff hole to win the circuit’s last leg at Royal Northwoods last month, is all geared up for another crack at the crown, actually his third after likewise ruling the ICTSI-Sherwood leg last March.

“Putting should be the key here. The greens have become tougher because of the rain the last few days,” said Dumandan, tipped as the leading contender for the crown in the absence of Order of Merit frontrunner Juvic Pagunsan, No. 2 Jay Bayron, Artemio Murakami, Angelo Que, Mars Pucay and Lascuña, who will all compete in the rich Singapore Open starting Thursday.

But the field remains as talent-laden as ever with leg winners Cassius Casas, Benjie Magada and reigning Philippine Open champion Elmer Salvador going all out to foil Dumandan’s bid in the 54-hole tournament sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc. and organized by the Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

“A six-under card will win here. But it will be tough,” said Casas, who benefitted from a final-hole disqualification of three players to snatch the ICTSI-Del Monte leg crown last July.

The power-hitting Davaoeño shotmaker, however, skipped the last two legs of the circuit in Cebu and Bulacan but is all primed up for another shot at the crown.

“The course is long so driving is also a key factor. But it will all boil down to putting and I think five-under would be enough to win,” said Magada, who has struggled after nipping Lascuña in a three-hole playoff to end a long-title drought at ICTSI-Orchard also last July.

Also in the hunt for the top P200,000 purse in the penultimate leg of the 13-stage circuit are reigning Philippine Open champion Elmer Salvador, Ferdie Aunzo, Antonio Asistio II, Rufino Bayron, Jun Bernis, Michael Bibat, Jerome Delariarte, Anthony

Fernando, Robert Pactolerin, Rey Pagunsan, Richard Sinfuego, Carito Villaroman and Danny Zarate.

Twenty amateurs are also in the fold, including Asian Games-bound Mhark Fernando, Jerson Balasabas and Miguel Tabuena, who are using the 54-hole tournament as their final tune-up before the Asiad. The US-based Marcel Puyat, the other player in the national squad, will join the team in Guangzhou in time for the golf competitions set to start Nov. 17.

The other amateurs seeing action are ICTSI-The Country Club squad composed of Dante Becierra, Carl Santos-Ocampo, Zanie Boy Gialon, Justin Limjap, Sonny Villaber and Peter Villaber, reigning national champion Clyde Mondilla, Miguel Ochoa, Jet Mathay, Glenn de Leon, Andrew Stroud, Dino Jimenez, Joeleo Torrecampo, Richard Joson and the ICTSI-Cangolf team headed by Tommy Manotoc, Jobim Carlos and Art Arbole.

Meanwhile, Rolando Marabe and amateur partners Nestor Yabut, Johnny Sambo and Michael Mangio combined for 54 then nipped the team composed of Omar Dungca and amateurs Teddy Quizon, Willy Valencia and Emiliano Mendoza to rule the pro-am tournament yesterday.

Joenard Rates and amateurs Rey Dizon, Jose del Rosario and Marc Cruz pooled a 56 to place third in the 18-hole event, 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.