Shootout looms over soggy CCC

CEBU, Philippines – With rains the last few days rendering the Cebu Country Club layout wet and soggy, premium will be on accuracy when the men of the Asian Development Tour begins their title quest in the $65,000 Aboitiz Invitational unfolding today here.

While power remains the norm in winter rules play, it could all boil down to precision shots on the narrow, winding fairways of the par-72 course with thick roughs although the field – all 120 of them – could cash in on the lift, clean and place format to set up birdie chances on the greens that proved receptive, at least during yesterday’s pro-am tournament.

“There are just too many talented players in the field but the key here will be driving and putting. You have to hit it straight and should be able to set up good birdie chances under preferred lies and make the putts,” said defending champion Elmer Salvador after shooting five birdies against a bogey in driving rains.

The organizing Asian Development Tour said preferred lies will be applied after heavy rains submerged some of the fairways and bunkers, hinting at a downpour of under-par scores – at least in the first two rounds.

“The nice thing about winter rules is that it would allow players to score low. It would be good if we see scores of 66s or 67s instead of 73s and 74s. Then if the weather improves in the last two days, it will become doubly interesting,” said CCC golf manager Jeric Hechanova.

Salvador also expects good scoring from the stellar field although he hopes to finally strike this week and end a string of runner-up finishes at ICTSI Palos Verdes, Del Monte and Pueblo de Oro legs of the ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour the last three weeks.

“There are reachable par-5s and the greens are receptive so I expect low scores at last in the first two rounds,” said the 43-year-old Salvador, now brandishing a lighter set of irons after a recent shaft changeover.

The 2009 ICTSI PGT Order of Merit champion draws a 7:50 a.m. tee-off with former ADT leg winner Peter Richardson of England and Wolmer Murillo of Venezuela on No. 10 although focus will be on the day’s featured flight composed of ADT two-leg titlist James Bowen and Filipino aces Jay Bayron and Angelo Que at 12:05 p.m. on No. 1.

Bowen is coming off a two-stroke victory in last week’s Jakarta Masters, his second on the ADT after winning the Harvard Masters in Malaysia last February, also making him a marked player in the event sponsored by Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc. and backed by International Container Terminal Services, Inc.

Also in the fold are Mitsuhiko Hashizume of Japan, who topped the Langkawi Masters in Malaysia last April, Johor Masters champion Grant Jackson of England and former titlists Brian Locke of the US, Dutch Guido Van der Valk and Richardson.

Bayron is also raring to reclaim the crown he won back-to-back from 2010-11 while Que remains confident as ever, hopeful of re-displaying the form that netted him the ICTSI Orchard Championship crown last May.

“I expect a run of under-par scores so it’s going to be interesting,” said Que, also a former three-time Asian Tour seeking his first championship on the ADT.

Other local aces tipped to contend for the crown are reigning ICTSI PGT Order of Merit champion Tony Lascuña and fellow Asian Tour campaigners Mars Pucay and Miguel Tabuena, Marvin Dumandan, Rey Pagunsan, Cassius Casas, and young turks Carl Santos-Ocampo and local bet Charles Hong.

“This tournament will be very special to me since I grew up here, I learned to play golf in this course and most probably, this will be  the last time I will play in this course under its present conditions so I might make this opportunity,” said Hong.

The other backers of the event are Nike Golf, Srixon, Custom Clubmakers, Pacsports, Cleveland Golf, Callaway, Ping, Mizuno, Empire Golf and Sports Shop, FootJoy, Titleist, Sharp and hole-in-one sponsor BMW.