Casas, Pactolerin top APGA tour qualifier

Cassius Casas lived up to his billing as the best shotmaker in the fold as he topped the Asian PGA Tour qualifier with a final round 70 at the Eastridge Golf Club in Binangonan, Rizal yesterday.

Casas, who had dominated the local circuit in the last three years but lost his Asian Tour card after a dismal campaign last year, finished the 54-hole elims with a 214 that included rounds of 71 and 73 in the first two days.

That ensured the dusky Philippine Airlines and Titleist-backed pro a country exempt status when the Asian PGA Tour, otherwise known the Davidoff Tour, kicks off its 2002 season on Feb. 7 with the staging of the London Myanmar Open in Myanmar.

Robert Pactolerin, who led in the second round, likewise gained a berth on the Tour as he finished tied for second with Edwin Sanchez with identical 218s. Pactolerin had a 75 while Sanchez rallied with a two-under par 70.

Only the top five players after 54 holes were given country exempt status for this year’s Davidoff Tour with Benjie Magada (72) and first round leader Rodrigo Cuello (76) clinching the last two spots with 220 and 221 aggregates, respectively.

Failing to make the grade in the elims, conducted by the PGAP under president Jesus Bustamante, were Dan Cruz (75-225), Danny delos Santos (78-227) and Juanito Pagunsan (79-228).