For breach of rules, PGTI suspends erring Pagunsan

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Golf Tournaments, Inc., organizer of the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour, has suspended ace Juvic Pagunsan for the remaining legs of the circuit this year for breach of the PGT guidelines on professional conduct.

Pagunsan walked out of the recent Aboitiz Invitational presented by ICTSI in Cebu after refusing to abide by the club’s house rules. He had previously escaped sanction after pulling out of the ICTSI-Forest Hills Invitational in the middle of his round without informing the PGTI last year.

This time, the PGTI has had enough and threw the book at the talented but recalcitrant shotmaker.

In suspending Pagunsan, Colo Ventosa, general manager of PGTI, cited Clause 10 of the PGT guidelines: “The PGT will maintain a strict ‘no tolerance’ policy on any behavior unbecoming of a professional. It is the desire of PGT to hold tournaments in a highly professional manner. Competitors participating in these tournaments shall conduct themselves in the highest standards of courtesy and sportsmanship, which they are bound to honor at all times whether on or off the golf course.”

Provisions of the clause covers professional conduct, including failure to comply with appropriate etiquette, misbehavior, injurious conduct and other similar acts and omissions.

Pagunsan has won four of the first 10 legs of this year’s 16-stage tour and has been the runaway leader in the Order of Merit ranking. But without him in the last six legs, a wide-open race for the coveted crown loomed starting with the ICTSI Riviera Classic beginning Wednesday at Riviera’s Langer course in Silang, Cavite.

“We have been deeply concerned about your actions and behavior in various occasions, most recent of which was during the practice round of the Aboitiz Invitational in Cebu last Aug. 29, 2011, where you willfully refused to abide by the club’s house rules and walked out of the premises. Despite our guidance as your manager and promoter, and repeated stern verbal warnings on your acts in the past, our advice and instructions have fallen on deaf ears,” Ventosa said.

Before meting out the suspension, the PGTI conducted a thorough investigation on the complaints of Pagunsan’s actions and behavior. ICTSI, Pagunsan’s corporate benefactor, agreed to the suspension.

“As a Professional Golfer sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI), you are expected to always conduct yourself in a professional manner as you are representing the ICTSI brand,” Ventosa said.

The suspension, however, will not apply to Pagunsan’s overseas campaigns. However, the PGTI reminded him that in tournaments abroad, it expects him to conduct himself in high esteem especially since he represents, not only PGTI and ICTSI, but also the country.

Jay Bayron is expected to gain on Pagunsan’s suspension as he moved up to second in the OOM race after topping the recent $65,000 million Aboitiz Invitational, the first Philippine event to be featured on the Asian Development Tour.

From Riviera, the tour goes to Sherwood Hills, also in Cavite, for the ICTSI Sherwood Hills Classic on Sept. 28-30, then to Villamor, which will host an ICTSI-PGT leg for the first time on Oct. 19-21, for the ICTSI Villamor Classic. The Calatagan layout in Batangas will also make its debut on the circuit when it stages the ICTSI Calatagan Challenge on Oct. 26-28, while Canlubang will host the penultimate leg on Nov. 9-11 for the ICTSI Canlubang Golf Invitational before the tour winds up at Wack Wack on Nov. 23-25 for the ICTSI Wack Wack Championship.