3-way shootout looms as Negros leg unfolds

BACOLOD, Philippines – The P1 million ICTSI Negros Occidental Classic gets going today (with Order of Merit frontrunner Tony Lascuña, in-form Jay Bayron and the steady Elmer Salvador tipped to slug it out for the crown in what could be an all-Davaoeño showdown at the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club here.

Lascuña has racked up two victories in the last three legs of the ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour, making him the marked man in the 54-hole event which he wants to win so badly after losing in a four-hole playoff to local ace Robert Pactolerin last year.

That setback extended Lascuña’s victory drought with the ace shotmaker snapping the 17-month spell just last May when he topped the ICTSI Eagle Ridge Invitational. He followed it up with a resounding win at the P2.5 million ICTSI Manila Southwoods to surge ahead in the OOM race with P1.1 million in winnings.

“It’s nice to win again but it will take a lot of effort, plus luck,” said Lascuña in Filipino. “There are so many good players and the course is tough.”

Like Lascuna, Bayron is coming into the event oozing with confidence following his come-from-behind victory in Maybank ADT Challenge in Jakarta last Sunday with the 2010 OOM champion out to end a string of sorry finishes in the early going of this year’s circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

Salvador is also fancied to crowd Lascuna and Bayron for the title with the soft-spoken shotmaker, No. 2 in the current OOM race, hoping to match Lascuna’s two-leg feat after retaining the ICTSI Sherwood Hills crown last April.

But a slew of others are also out to contend for the top P200,000 purse, including last year’s three-leg winner Jhonnel Ababa, who shot an eight-under 64 to finish third behind Salvador and Malaysian Nicholas Fung in Jakarta.

Marvin Dumandan, winner at ICTSI John Hay Championship, is also in the fold together with former Philippine Open champion and three-time Asian Tour leg winner Angelo Que, who is chasing his first local victory in a long, long while.

Others vying in the event, sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc., are Michael Bibat, Mhark Fernando, Jun Bernis, Clyde Mondilla, Ferdie Aunzo, Charles Hong and Carl Santos Ocampo.

Other backers of the event, the seventh leg of this year’s 16-stage circuit, are Sharp, Nike Golf, Callaway, Titleist, Srixon, Custom Clubmakers, Mizuno and Foot Joy with support from Event Captain, Inc., Omnisource Inti’l. and TPGAP with Balls, A Round of Golf, Inquirer Golf, Studio 23, Pinoygolfer.com and Impact as media partners.