Gialon sneaks into Top 10 in PGT Order of Merit

MANILA, Philippines - Rookie pro Zanie Boy Gialon jumped from No. 18 to seventh in the Order of Merit race on the ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour, his surge bolstered by his playoff victory over frontrunner Tony Lascuna in the rain-shortened ICTSI Negros Occidental Classic in Bacolod last week.

Gialon, 22, pocketed P200,000 in edging Lascuna to claim his biggest purse in a young pro career, raising her earnings to P356,250 heading to the circuit’s eighth leg in the ICTSI Iloilo Golf Challenge this week.

Gialon and Lascuna will headline the P1 million event at Sta. Barbara with the former hoping to play with renewed confidence as he goes for back-to-back against a field teeming with talent.

“I hope to play well again in Iloilo but for sure, everybody will be watching me,” said Gialon, who missed the cut in his first two tournaments as a pro last summer.

Lascuna will surely go all-out to redeem himself from a second straight playoff setback in Bacolod after losing to Robert Pactolerin on the fourth extra hole last year as he resumes his chase for a third leg victory in the 16-stage circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

Jay Bayron is also expected to figure well in the upcoming 54-hole tournament sponsored by ICTSI after a dismal performance in Bacolod where he wound up joint 29th in the event reduced to 36 holes due to unplayable playing condition at the Marapara layout.

Jhonnel Ababa is also raring to bounce back following a missed-cut stint last week with the former amateur standout out to defend the crown he won in a playoff over Bayron last year that sparked a three-leg victory romp.

The entire Bacolod cast is expected to see action in Iloilo, including Elmer Salvador, Elmer Saban, Clyde Mondilla, Mhark Fernando, Marvin Dumandan, Cassius Casas and local ace Richard Sinfuego.