MANILA, Philippines - Juvic Pagunsan braces for what could be his toughest challenge in pursuit of a record third straight leg crown on the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour as he banners the stellar cast in the ICTSI Apo Golf Invitational beginning Aug. 10 at the Apo layout in Davao.
Pagunsan has actually set a norm by winning the Apo stage for the second straight time last year, becoming the first player to defend a leg title in the three-year-old circuit. In top form and oozing with confidence, he will try to further stretch it to three next week and make it more difficult for the others to match.
But out to foil his three-peat quest is a roster that includes the best in the land, each capable of matching the ace Negrense’s talent and skills over an equally tough course that is home to a slew of fancied players on the tour.
Pagunsan, however, showed it can be done when he bested homegrown bets Ferdie Aunzo and Elmer Saban in last year’s Apo edition of the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. and sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc.
This time, however, the likes of Jay Bayron, Tony Lascuña, Marvin Dumandan and Elmer Salvador are all pumped-up to vie for the crown and defend their turf along with fellow Davaoeños Cassius Casas, Rufino Bayron and Jhonnel Ababa, who scored a breakthrough win in Iloilo last month.
Ababa humbled Jay Bayron on the first playoff hole to capture the ICTSI Iloilo Golf Challenge crown with the former mainstay of the national team hoping to sustain his winning form and reign at home.
But Pagunsan will not only have to contend with the local talents but also the likes of Angelo Que, Artemio Murakami, Mars Pucay, Mhark Fernando, Jun Bernis, youthful Miguel Tabuena and veteran Robert Pactolerin, who nipped Lascuña in a four-hole playoff to win the ICTSI Negros Occidental Classic also last month.
Frankie Miñoza is also in the fold in a rare appearance on the local circuit with the veteran shotmaker and US Senior Tour campaigner also expected to figure in the title hunt in the 54-hole championship serving as the eighth leg of a 16-leg tour.
Meanwhile, Pagunsan, winner of three of the first seven stages of the circuit, and the other leading pros see action in the traditional pro-am tournament Tuesday along with officials and guests of the event’s chief backers.
They are the 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.
From Davao, action shifts to Bukidnon on Aug. 17-19 for the ICTSI Del Monte Championship where Casas snatched the victory when Pagunsan and two others were disqualified on a final hole infraction.
Cebu will host the next leg on Aug. 31-Sept. 3 for the ICTSI Aboitiz Invitational, a 72-hole championship which also serves as a leg of the Asian Development Tour.