Tight battle seen in ICTSI South Pacific

MANILA, Philippines — A string of one-shot victories and dramatic finishes has set the tone for the Philippine Golf Tour, and the ICTSI South Pacific Classic looms as another test of nerve and precision when the P2.5-million championship unfolds Tuesday at the South Pacific Golf and Leisure Estates in Davao City.

Rupert Zaragosa’s narrow escape at last Thursday’s Pueblo de Oro Championship underscored the depth, parity and unpredictability of the country’s premier circuit, where no player has established a commanding edge and the title remains anyone’s for the taking heading into the four-day battle for the crown and the top prize.

The Pueblo de Oro finish was another reminder of how fine the margins have become. Zaragosa bogeyed the final hole without realizing he had done enough to secure the victory, with his caddie assuring him he had survived a tense finish to snap a year-long title drought.