BAGUIO, Philippines – It will be a question of course management but it could all boil down to putting as the men of the tour slug it out again on a different layout but with the same goal – win the P2.5 million ICTSI Camp John Hay Championship here.
The long hitters will still have the edge, particularly on the reachable par-5s of this tricky par-69 John Hay course made longer by soggy fairways. But the stellar field is in for lot of challenges, thus giving accent on club selection in hunt for birdies and low scores.
For many, however, the layout’s sleek putting surface will spell the difference between victory and defeat in this second leg of the ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour.
“The course is short but a little longer and tougher,†said Marvin Dumandan in Filipino. “This requires course management although putting will still be the key here.â€
Dumandan charged back with a closing 64 and pounced on Carl Santos-Ocampo meltdown to claim the crown here last year but the power-hitting Davaoeño shotmaker said it will be an uphill battle against a talent-laden field and an unpredictable layout – in pursuit of a second straight championship in four-day championship.
There is Miguel Tabuena, oozing with confidence following his emphatic eight-shot romp over Edward Reyes at the ICTSI Sherwood Classic, which kicked off this year’s lucrative 16-stage circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. last month.
Tony Lascuña, who won three legs and had four runner-up finishes to run away with last year’s Order of Merit crown, is also tipped to contend for the top P450,000 purse, his form toughened up by a series of stints on the Asian Tour.