Solid Salvador pulls away by 4 shots

TRECE MARTIRES, Cavite, Philippines  – Elmer Salvador threatened to end a long victory drought in style, shooting a second straight bogey-free round  a five-under 67 that thrust him into the solo lead  four shots ahead of Cassius Casas in the P1 million ICTSI Sherwood Hills Classic here yesterday.

Re-displaying the form he showed in firing a lead-tying 68, marked by four saved pars, in the first round, Salvador outgunned veteran Asian Tour campaigner and erstwhile co-leader Mars Pucay with three birdies at the front then added two more coming home while rescuing pars twice to become the first player in recent memory to preserve a bogey-free stint throughout 36 holes.

“I’ve been hitting the ball quite well these days,” said Salvador, who gained so much confidence following his runner-up finish to Indian Himmat Rai in the Singapore Classic of the Asian Tour last month where he lost in a thrilling six-hole playoff.

But what motivates the reticent Davaoeño shotmaker most is his desire to end a long title drought in the ICTSI revival of the pro tour he dominated in 2009 when he emerged the Order of Merit champion.

“I actually can’t remember when was the last time I won. It’s been a long time,” added Salvador, whose nine-under 135 aggregate put him way ahead of Casas and 18 holes away from scoring his first victory since topping the kick off leg of last year’s circuit at Mt. Malarayat.

Casas, who snatched the ICTSI Del Monte crown from Salvador last year after the latter and two others were disqualified on a final-hole infraction, birdied three of his last 11 holes in scorching heat to shoot that 69 and assume the challenger’s role at 139.

His hunger for title also makes Casas a serious threat in today’s final round of the 54-hole event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

“My confidence is very high and I’ll do everything to win again,” said Casas.

While the other frontrunners stumbled with over par scores and tumbled down the leaderboard, one player who struggled in the first round bounced back with an impressive card to fuel his own title bid in the tournament sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc.

Artemio Murakami, virtually written off with a so-so 75 in the first round, fought back with a 66 as he tamed the backside of the wind-raked Sherwood with a five-under 31, capped by a four-birdie windup. He then eagled the par-5 eighth to negate his final hole bogey at No. 9 for a 141 for third, six strokes adrift.

Pucay, who matched Salvador’s opening 68 to force a four-way tie for the lead with Gene Bondoc and Tony Lascuna Thursday, lost his way in the face of Salvador’s awesome form, fumbling with four bogeys against two birdies for a 74 and a 142.

Lascuna came in ruffled by the wind in one of the late afternoon flights and hobbled with a 75, dropping to solo fifth at 143 while Bondoc also fell by the wayside with a four-over 76, slipping to joint sixth with Michael Bibat, who shot a 69, and Danny Zarate, who carded a 74.

Pooling similar 145s were Richard Sinfuego (71), Elmer Saban and Arnold Villacencio, who both had 75s.

ICTSI Del Monte leg winner Mhark Fernando carded a 73 and stood 10 strokes off Salvador at 148 in the company of Anthony Fernando, who matched par 72, and ICTSI Bacolod leg winner Robert Pactolerin, who had a 74, while two-leg winner Jhonnel Ababa, who reigned in Iloilo and Riviera, limped home with a 75 and fell to 149.

The 12th leg of the 16-stage circuit is backed by MJ Carr Golf Management, Inc., Srixon, Callaway, Unilab, BDO, Titleist, Sharp, Custom Clubmakers, Mizuno, PinoyGolfer.com, Inquirer Golf, Omnisource International, A Round of Golf, Studio 23, Balls, and Dynamic Sports.