MVP Sports Foundation backs ICTSI Phl Open

MANILA, Philippines - The Manny V. Pangilinan Sports Foundation (MVPSF), a long-time backer of Phlippines sports, is throwing its full support to the ICTSI Philippine Open as a major presenter when it is held May 15 at its home course at Wack Wack.

Since sponsoring all of the National Golf Association of the Philippines’ amateur events since last year, the MVPSF has not backed down in giving the sport a much-needed shot-in-the-arm and has come in as a major backer of Asia’s oldest national championship.

The Open, which took a hiatus last year, will be back as an Asian Tour event with the International Container Terminal Services, Inc. putting up the total pot prize of $300,000.

Mardan Mamat of Singapore, who won in 2012, will effectively be the defending champion but faces a formidable challenge this time, including from local aces Tony Lascuña, Angelo Que, and the ageless Frankie Miñoza.

Incidentally, the MVPSF will also be presenting the Philippine Junior Amateur Match Play championship to be played at posh Alabang Country Club starting Tuesday where Rupert Zaragosa will try to duplicate his 2011 feat of holding the boys and men’s titles at the same time.

No Filipino has won a foreign-flavored Open since Que pulled it off in 2008 with Jay Bayron and Miguel Tabuena coming close in 2011 and 2012, respectively.

The Open will be the second big international golf event in the country this year after the Solaire Open at The Country Club won by Canada’s Richard H. Lee in come-from-behind style.

Meanwhile, Asian Tour Order of Merit leader Anirban Lahiri of India will join the hunt in the Open along with Prayad Marksaeng of Thailand, an eight-time Asian Tour winner, Siddikur Rahman of Bangladesh, Boonchu Ruangkit of Thailand and Nicholas Fung of Malaysia.

Over in Singapore, Lascuña carded a three-under 69 to move to joint 22nd, six strokes behind Thai Panuphol Pittayarat midway through The Championship at the Laguna National Golf and Country Club.

Lascuña, the reigning back-to-back Order of Merit winner back home, bogeyed No. 4 but birdied three of the next 10 holes, including back-to-back from No. 13, to turn in his second under-par card after an opening 68.

With a 137, the Davaoeño shotmaker moved 12 rungs better to join Frenchman Francois Calmels, Korean Lee Ki-sang and Finnish Roope Kakko.

Pittayarat, who took control with a solid 63 Thursday, rammed in five birdies against a bogey to shoot a 68 for a 131, one stroke ahead of Aussie Scott Hend and Chile’s Felipe Aguilar.

Hend birdied seven of the first 13 holes to fire a 65 while Aguilar made a 67 to share second place in the $1.5 million event at 132s, one ahead of Denmark’s Anders Hansen, who had a 133 after a 66.

But whlle Lascuña, who finished joint 22nd in last week’s Indonesian Masters, continued to gain, compatriots Angelo Que and Elmer Salvador floundered and missed the cut at 140. Que, who also failed to make the weekend play in Indonesia, while Salvador made a 73 for a 148.

The in-form Lahiri won his fourth Asian Tour title in Indonesia last week, his first victory outside of India, and he will take aim at cementing his position atop the summit with another victory at the challenging Wack Wack East Course.

Lahiri is enjoying a hot streak after sensationally contributing two points in Team Asia’s draw with Team Europe in the inaugural EurAsia Cup in Malaysia in March.

His growing confidence spilled over to the Maybank Malaysian Open where he finished in 10th place, before going on to win the CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters when he eagled the last hole.

“It feels great to be top on the Asian Tour Order of Merit right now. One of my goals at the beginning of this year was to contend for the Order of Merit. I am glad I got off to a good start. I just have to keep focusing on playing good golf and keep getting better as the year progresses,” said Lahiri.