Salvador seeks redemption at ICTSI-Del Monte

MANILA, Philippines - Elmer Salvador hopes to sustain his final round brilliance at Apo to Del Monte as he goes for no less than the crown in the ICTSI-Del Monte Championship beginning tomorrow and erase the stigma of last year’s final hole blunder at Del Monte Golf Club.

Salvador fired a tournament-best 64 to finish second to Juvic Pagunsan at ICTSI-Apo Golf Invitational in Davao last week. Although it hardly threatened Pagunsan’s crack at a fourth leg victory on the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour, the closing bogey-free card will definitely boost Salvador’s confidence heading to the P1 million event at Del Monte.

“It’s a different challenge at Del Monte and Juvic is playing well. But I’m hopeful of my chances,” said Salvador in Filipino.

What should further motivate the former Philippine Open champion to vie for the crown and the top P200,000 this week is his desire to atone for the final hole boo-boo last year.

Salvador was a birdie-putt away from clinching the ICTSI-Del Monte title last year but was disqualified, along with Pagunsan and Richard Sinfuego, on an infraction that had something to do with assisting other players.

The bizarre finish enabled Cassius Casas to snatch the crown and end a long title drought in the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. and sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc.

Sinfuego, the former amateur standout, is also out to redeem himself while Casas is raring to prove his worth in what promises to be an all-out battle for top honors in the 54-hole tournament serving as the ninth leg of the circuit.

The likes of Angelo Que, Artemio Murakami, Tony Lascuna, Mars Pucay, Marvin Dumandan, Jhonnel Ababa and Jay Bayron are also in the fold, making the event truly an all-star tournament.

But Pagunsan remains the player to beat with the Bacolod pro coming off a runaway triumph at Apo where he dominated the field with a pair of 66s before closing out with a 70 for a four-shot romp over Salvador.

Meanwhile, the leading pros get the chance to test the tight layout as they see action in the traditional pro-am tournament today along with guests and officials of the event’s chief backers MJ Carr Golf Management, Inc., Srixon, Callaway, Unilab, BDO, Titleist, Sharp, Custom Clubmakers, Mizuno, Empire Golf and Sports Shop, PinoyGolfer.com, Inquirer Golf, Omnisource International, A Round of Golf, Studio 23, Balls, and Dynamic Sports.

Pagunsan has earlier won the Royal Northwoods, Orchard and Eastridge stops of the 16-stage circuit as he pulled away in the Order of Merit race with P1,254,605 winnings, more than double than the second running Salvador’s P573,244.