Pagunsan eyes No 2 against tour top guns

MANILA, Philippines - Juvic Pagunsan, fresh from his two-shot victory over Jay Bayron at Northwoods last week, hopes to make it two-in-row in the early going of the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour as he heads the cast in the ICTSI Classic at the Mt. Malarayat Golf and Country Club today.

Unlike in the ICTSI Northwoods, however, the 32-year-old Pagunsan will be taking on a strong field that includes back-to-back The Country Club champion Angelo Que, veteran Frankie Miñoza, youthful Miguel Tabuena, Dutch Guido Van Der Valk and Canadian Rick Gibson.

The five are among the 105-player cast, including 14 amateurs, chasing the top P200,000 purse in the 54-hole tournament serving as the second leg of the 12-stage circuit put up by the International Container Terminal Services, Inc. and organized by the Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

But this one stands out among the rest, in terms of participation and prestige, with Miñoza even taking a break from his US Seniors Tour campaign to be with the local aces and Que and Tabuena giving up their slots in the Panasonic Open of the Asian Tour, also slated this week in India, to join the title hunt after missing the kickoff leg at Northwoods.

Van Der Valk and Gibson, meanwhile, provide the international challenge with the former out to atone for his failed bid in the 2009 Philippine Open at Mt. Malarayat and the latter renewing his ties with the local players.

But Pagunsan goes all out to frustrate all of them, including the likes of Tony Lascuna, Artemio Murakami, Marvin Dumandan and Bayron, as he tries to take full advantage of his early morning tee off at 7 in the company of Ruben Sasutil and Elmer Saban.

Bayron also seeks to come out with a strong start with a favorable starting time at 7:20 a.m. with reigning national amateur champion Clyde Mondilla and Gibson.

The 16-year-old Tabuena, in his first pro tournament on the local turf after debuting in the SAIL Open of the Asian Tour in India two weeks ago, also hopes to make the most of early tee-off at 7:20 a.m. on No. 10 against Antonio Asistio II and amateur Richard Joson.

The rest of the fancied bets have drawn late tee-offs when the dreaded Malarayat winds are likely to baffle their respective games although Que will have also to contend with Murakami and top amateur Jobim Carlos in the 11:40 a.m. group on No. 10.

Dumandan, winner of three legs last year, is paired with Van Der Valk and amateur Art Arbole in the 11:40 a.m. flight on No. 10 while Miñoza will play alongside Michael Bibat and Solomon Gines at 12:30 p.m. on No. 1.

The other top guns competing in the event, backed by MJ Carr Golf Management, Inc., Srixon, Callaway, Dynamic Sports, are former national champion Mhark Fernando, Jhonnel Ababa, Gene Bondoc, Cassius Casas, rookie pro Carl Santos-Ocampo, Gerald Rosales, Benjie Magada, Ferdie Aunzo, Jun Bernis, Rufino Bayron and Anthony Fernando. -- end it//thanks