Ababa seeks 4th win at BDO Cangolf Invit'l

MANILA, Philippines - With two wins in the last three legs on the ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour, Jhonnel Ababa shoots for another one – and a possible shot at the Order of Merit crown – when the P1 million BDO Canlubang Golf Invitational Presented by ICTSI is fired off Nov. 9 at the Canlubang Golf and Country Club’s north course in Laguna.

Ababa’s six-shot romp over Tony Lascuna and Mhark Fernando at ICTSI Calatagan last week – his third victory after scoring his maiden win at ICTSI Iloilo and ruling the ICTSI Riviera leg, moved the Davaoeño shotmaker to No. 3 in the OOM ranking for a crack at the coveted OOM crown with two legs left in the 16-stage circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

With P976,956 in earnings, the 24-year-old Ababa still stood half-a-million peso behind frontrunning Juvic Pagunsan, who remained on top despite being out of the last six tournaments due to suspension. Pagunsan has amassed a total winnings of P1,474,604 on four leg wins and two runner-up finishes.

Elmer Salvador, winner of the OOM crown when the International Container Terminal Services, Inc. revived the pro circuit in 2009, is at No. 2 with P1,012,019. But focus will be on Ababa, who will not only be carrying the momentum of his big win at Calatagan but will also be playing on a course he is so familiar with.

Aside from the Batangas layout, Cangolf has also been home not only to Ababa but to the other former members of the national team, including Lascuna, Fernando, Jay Bayron, Richard Sinfuego, Jerson Balasabas and Rey Pagunsan.

That could set the stage for a wide-open battle for the top P200,000 prize in the P1 million event although Ababa will still be the marked man owing to his form and confidence.

Ababa needs a strong finish in Canlubang and a victory at Wack Wack later this month to get a shot at the OOM title. Being the final leg and hosting a leg on the circuit for the first time, the Wack Wack Golf Invitational is offering a whopping P2.5 million total prize fund with the winner taking home P450,000.

That also keeps the fourth-running Bayron (P963,494) and No. 5 Lascuna (P878,719) in the hunt for the OOM plum although the duo needs no less than a sweep of the last two legs to contend for the crown.

Marvin Dumandan, running sixth in the OOM standing with P582,572, is also due for a win while Fernando, in seventh with P524,864 winnings, seeks a follow-up to his breakthrough win at ICTSI Del Monte.

Casas is also raring to end a long title drought and hopes to vie for the title and improve his No. 8 ranking with P507,754, while Anthony Fernando is at ninth place with P439,705 and Rufino Bayron is at No. 10 with P357,804 in earnings.

The event is backed by MJ Carr Golf Management, Inc., Srixon, Callaway, Unilab, Titleist, Sharp, Custom Clubmakers, Mizuno, PinoyGolfer.com, Inquirer Golf, A Round of Golf, Studio 23, Balls, and Dynamic Sports.