TCC invitational under way

CANLUBANG, Laguna, Philippines – Defending champion Juvic Pagunsan and former winners Angelo Que and Tony Lascuña all agree that it will be a “survival of the fittest” in the P5 million The Country Club Invitational which fires off today at the wind-raked TCC layout in Laguna.

Unlike in past stagings of the premier event marked by runaway victories, a tight, spirited battle for the record P1.5 million top purse is seen from start all the way to Sunday’s finale with the elite 33-player roster all in top form and the dreaded TCC wind expected to come into play, especially this weekend.

“Anybody can win here but it depends on ball striking and who can adjust in such adverse condition,” said Pagunsan in Filipino during yesterday’s pro-am of the event put up by ICTSI chair and CEO Ricky Razon in honor of his father ICTSI founder Enrique “Don Pocholo” Razon Sr.

The former Asian Tour No. 1 drew reigning Asian Development Tour Order of Merit winner Jay Bayron and former amateur hotshot Clyde Mondilla in the 9:30 a.m. flight, hoping for a strong start and a stronger finish the way he did last year when he turned a fierce battle into a four-shot romp over Elmer Salvador.

Meanwhile, ICTSI’s Chito Alarilla and ICTSI PR manager Narlene Soriano launched yesterday the 17-leg ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour during awards rites of the pro-am tournament. The 2013 season will start at Sherwood Hills in Cavite on March 18-23 and will again end at Wack Wack on Nov. 19-23.

The ICTSI PGT Qualifying School is slated March 4-8 at the Splendido Golf Club in Tagaytay.

Que, out to rebound from a disappointing joint fourth place finish last year after ruling the last two editions of the event in emphatic fashions, faces an early challenge from two tough rivals, including the most dreaded player in the field today.

Lascuña, who won three legs on the ICTSI-PGT last year to cop the OOM crown and the Players’ Player of the Year honors, is oozing with confidence coming into the event, having captured the Sabah Masters in come-from-behind fashion last month.

Still, Lascuña, winner in 2004, has opted to downplay his chances, saying the big hitters have the edge on the long and windy course.

“It’s a tough course, long and windy,” said Lascuña. “But I’m ready and in top condition although this course is for the long hitters.”

Lascuña mentioned Pagunsan and Que as two of the players to watch along with Mondilla and Orlan Sumcad, winner of yesterday’s pro-am with partner Lino Magpantay.

“The condition is tough and the greens are fast,” said Que, who vowed to atone for a so-so campaign last year. “Everything was off for me last year but hopefully, there’ll be a lot of changes this year.”

The former Philippine Open champion, who has been working on his putting with coach Bong Lopez, added that the title chase “will be about who is confident and who plays well in tough condition” and picked Pagunsan, Lascuña and Salvador as the chief contenders.

Sumcad and Magpantay combined for a 13-under card and nipped Que and Perry Pe in the countback to win the top P70,000 for the pro and an Apple Macbook Air plus trophy for the amateur.