Juvic heads local cast in ICTSI-Malarayat leg

MANILA, Philippines - Streaking Juvic Pagunsan tries to add the ICTSI-Mt. Malarayat crown to his growing list of victories as he leads the local challenge against a crack international field in the $50,000 event firing off tomorrow at the Mt. Malarayat Golf and Country Club in Lipa, Batangas.

Pagunsan is coming off a one-stroke victory over Marvin Dumandan in last week’s ICTSI Eastridge Classic, his second straight and third overall after four legs of the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour, making him the top favorite in the second leg of this year’s ASEAN Golf Tour.

The smooth-swinging Filipino shotmaker actually finished second to Chawalit Plaphol of Thailand here last year where he lost by eight shots. But Pagunsan is playing on a zone right now and is tipped to contend for the crown and the top $8,126 prize in the 72-hole championship.

Jay Bayron, who wound up joint ninth in the ASEAN Golf Tour’s kickoff leg – the Pattaya Open – ruled by Thai Prom Meesawat last month, is also expected to join the title hunt along with last year’s third placer Ferdie Aunzo and the rest of the local tour campaigners.

They include Artemio Murakami, Tony Lascuna, Mars Pucay, Rufino Bayron, Elmer Salvador, Cassius Casas, Richard Sinfuego, Orlan Sumcad, Jhonnel Ababa, Mhark Fernando, Anthony Fernando and Dumandan.

Thanyakon Khrongpha, Wisut Artjanawat, Panuwat Muenlek and Ekalak Waisayakul head the 20-player Thai roster in the event sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc. along with Singapore’s Ang Chin Ling, Brunei’s Wira Ak, Indonesian Johannes Dermawan and Dutch Guido Van der Valk.

The field will get to test the composite layout in today’s pro-am tournament featuring the leading pros with officials and guests of the sponsoring ICTSI.

Meanwhile, a number of established and new events has been lined up for the ASEAN Golf Tour this year, giving the region’s top pros the opportunity to play for $685,000 total prize fund, which is over $100,000 more than last year, and compete in nine tournaments.

“Since launching the ASEAN PGA in September of 2007 we have been in the fortunate position to announce a strong schedule each year. We were able to stage five events in the latter stages of that memorable first year and today it is wonderful to have at least nine tournaments with an overall purse of US$685,000,” said A.C. Wong, executive chairman of the ASEAN PGA.

“The arrival of six new tournaments this year is a reflection of the interest and confidence that exists in the ASEAN PGA. More importantly this is wonderful news for the young professional golfers in ASEAN who have embraced our Tour since day one,” he added.

There is a huge incentive for ASEAN pros to succeed on the Tour with the top 10 players from the money list earning playing privileges on OneAsia and the leading seven gaining spots in the $6 million Barclays Singapore Open in November.