Battle of Midlands on

As the battle shifts back to Luzon but to another uncharted territory, three players — Cassius Casas, Mars Pucay and Benjie Magada — will be chasing a third leg victory when the First Gentleman’s Professional Golf Circuit presented by San Miguel Beer resumes today at the picturesque Tagaytay Midlands course.

After a memorable three weeks of fireworks in Mindanao where several scoring records were set, another exciting four days are in store as the country’s touring pros tackle a tough course hosting a full professional event for the first time with Casas, Pucay and Magada all fired up to shoot for No. 3.

It will be a battle with the winds and greens with such glass-like texture more than anything else at Midlands, factors which may force the best of the pack to leave their big-head drivers behind and put the irons to good use.

The Midlands stop will serve as the 10th leg of the revived tour bankrolled by First Gentleman Mike Arroyo and San Miguel Beer and organized by the Federation of Golf Clubs Philippines, Inc., kicking off the final Luzon stretch.

Most of the pros got back from their southern sojourn via a courtesy ride on board official carrier WG&A Super Ferry where they got the chance to relax their tired and aching muscles.

Tagaytay Midlands being a neutral ground will surely pave the way for wild, wild chase for the top P100,000. And for the other top guns still searching for their first victory like Danny Zarate, Rodrigo Cuello and Robert Pactolerin, it’s high time for a counter strike.

Casas and Pucay remain the biggest problem for everybody, especially after both dominated the Mindanao swing of the circuit.

Pucay pulled off back-to-back wins at the expense of his World Cup teammate Casas at Rancho Palos Verdes and Pueblo de Oro. But the latter ended his anguish by surviving another Davaoeño Elmer Salvador in a marathon six-hole sudden-death playoff last week in Del Monte.

Pucay didn’t play too well in Del Monte although he kept the Order of Merit leadership despite finishing just tied for ninth.

Also in the roster are Canlubang leg winner Richard Sinfuego, who joined that Del Monte playoff but didn’t last too long, and rookie pro Angelo Que, who won the Bacolod stage.