Que, Miñoza re-join ICTSI tour

MANILA, Philippines - Angelo Que and Frankie Miñoza have confirmed participation in the P1 million ICTSI Apo Golf Invitational firing off at the Apo Golf and Country Club in Davao next week, ensuring another spirited battle for top honors among the country’s golfing elite and rising stars.

Playoffs marked the last two stagings of the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour with Robert Pactolerin ending a long slump with a victory over Tony Lascuña on the fourth extra hole in Bacolod and Jhonnel Ababa scoring a breakthrough with a surprise win over Jay Bayron on the first hole of their sudden death.

With Que and Miñoza back in the hunt after skipping the last four legs and the rest of the country’s cream of the crop in the roster, the chase for the top P200,000 purse is expected to be fierce and the level of play tipped to go a notch higher when the event is held Aug. 10-12.

Que, the reigning back-to-back champion of The Country Club Invitational, dominated the field with a runaway victory in the second leg at ICTSI-Mt. Malarayat but has opted to rest and campaign abroad after a so-so finish at ICTSI-Orchard Invitational.

Miñoza, on the other hand, last saw action also at the ICTSI-Orchard, turning in a fourth place finish before resuming his campaign on the US Seniors Tour.

But Que and Miñoza are just two of a slew of favorites fancied to contend for the crown in the 54-hole event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. with Juvic Pagunsan headlining the star-studded field on a course he dominated the last two years.

Pagunsan, winner of three of the first seven legs of the circuit sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc., will be gunning for a record third straight ICTSI-Apo crown. He defended the title he won in 2009 by humbling homegrown bets Ferdie Aunzo and Elmer Saban last year.

Pactolerin and Ababa are also in the fold, each chasing their own dream of winning a second leg diadem along with local stars Jay Bayron and brother Rufino, Tony Lascuña, Cassius Casas, Elmer Salvador, Mhark Fernando, Anthony Fernando and Marvin Dumandan.

Artemio Murakami is also in the roster together with Mars Pucay, the comebacking Rey Pagunsan, Jerson Balasabas and teen sensation Miguel Tabuena, who is out to redeem himself from a series of mediocre finishes abroad.

The event is backed b MJ Carr Golf Management, Inc., Srixon, Callaway, Unilab, BDO, Titleist, Sharp, Custom Clubmakers, Mizuno, Empire Golf & Sports Shop, PinoyGolfer.com, Inquirer Golf, Omnisource International, A Round of Golf, Studio 23, Balls, and Dynamic Sports.