Southwoods another graveyard of Casas bid?

Suddenly, the First Gentle-man’s Professional Golf Circuit has become a "Beat Cassius Casas" series.

Four second-place finishes in the last five weeks, including a couple of near-victories, must’ve given Casas some sleepless nights and as action shifts to the Legends Course of the Manila Southwoods starting today, everybody just wants to join the growing list of tormentors of the dusky shotmaker whose final-round misfortunes had already cost him quite a fortune.

Not to mention a dose of mental torture.

Casas had been in contention each and every week in 2003 but his reliability could only net him a playoff victory at Del Monte and a collection of four runner-up finishes, including last week’s heartbreaker to Richard Sinfuego at the Orchard.

Casas’ new reputation as Mr. Second Place gets into special focus again at bunker-laden layout with practically the same group, led by Sinfuego, the new Order of Merit frontrunner, raring to spoil his bid again.

But Southwoods being his home course may just present better options to Casas although he would need to check on his final round rhythm if he is to break that ugly cycle and grab the elusive OOM leadership in this 12th leg of the circuit bankrolled by First Gentleman Mike Arroyo’s foundation and San Miguel Beer and organized by the Federation of Golf Clubs Philippines, Inc.

Meanwhile, the circuit is definitely not ending at Southwoods, an assurance given by Ben Abalos, the Comelec chair also serving as commissioner of the Professional Golfers Association of the Philippines.

Abalos said that another leg at the Camp John Hay in Baguio has been firmed up for next month with two more additional legs at the Mimosa and Luisita to complete a Northern Luzon swing a big possibility.

Abalos also expressed regret over the cancellation of the Wack-Wack-Philippine Open but at the same time vowed to find alternatives events that will keep the pros busy.

Sinfuego’s one-stroke win over Casas made him the fourth two-leg victor in the series also supported by WG&A Super Ferry. Casas, Benjie Magada and Mars Pucay have two wins each as well.

All four will be chasing for No. 3 in a showdown that will get them ready for the big battle coming at The Country Club next week, a tourney which is not part of the First Gentleman’s Circuit with P1 million going to the winner.

Casas remains the big problem for everybody but the improved games of Sinfuego and Rey Pagunsan, winner of the Tagaytay Midlands leg and a Southwoods pro like Casas, should make the battle for the P100,000 first prize very tough.

Danny Zarate and Angelo Que are not playing since they will be in Malaysia for the Asian PGA Tour. — Dante Navarro