ICTSI pro tour resumes at Sherwood

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Golf Tour-ICTSI Sherwood Classic unfolds today at the wind-raked Sherwood Golf and Country Club in Trece Martires, Cavite with the battle for the top P200,000 purse expected to be fierce among the country’s touring pros.

Danny Zarate tries to become the first two-leg winner in the revival of the pro circuit sponsored by ICTSI (International Container Terminal Services, Inc.) as he leads the field in the P1 million tournament serving as the fifth leg of the 10-leg tour spread over the country’s championship courses.

Zarate ruled the kickoff leg at Mt. Malarayat but the veteran campaigner has struggled in the next three legs although he remains confident of his chances in this week’s tournament backed by MJCarr Golf Management, Pisanti, Srixon, FAMI, Business Mirror, Motorola, Omnisource, Nike Golf, Tiger Gatorade and Pepsico.

Out to foil his bid is a mix of young and veterans also raring to score a breakthrough win, including brand-new pros Ferdie Aunzo and Anthony Fernando and Cassius Casas, Carito Villaroman, Rodrigo Cuello, Eddie Bagtas and Antolin Fernando.

Robert Pactolerin, who beat Elmer Salvador by two shots in the second of the three-leg circuit, also put up by ICTSI as a prelude to this year’s 10-stage regular tour, is also fancied to contend for the crown in the 54-hole tournament.

With some of the big guns – including Apo leg winner Juvic Pagunsan and Eagle Ridge champion and current Order of Merit leader Marvin Dumandan – opting to compete in the Brunei Open of the Asian Tour, also slated this week, the chase for top honors is tipped to be wide open.

Also seeing action are the country’s top amateurs, including the members of the national team competing in next month’s Putra Cup in Thailand, including Rufino Bayron, Antonio Asistio and Peter Villaber of the ICTSI golf stable and reigning national champion Mhark Fernando of Calatagan.

After the ICTSI Sherwood Classic, the tour will head to the ICTSI Riviera Championship on Sept. 7-11 in Silang, Cavite, before Royal Northwoods hosts the seventh leg – the ICTSI Royal Northwoods Classic on Sept. 28-Oct. 2 in Bulacan. ICTSI Forest Hills Championship will stage the eighth leg on Oct. 26-30 in Antipolo with the ninth leg – the ICTSI Valley Golf Challenge – set Nov. 16-20, also in Antipolo. The circuit winds up in Canlubang with the ICTSI Canlubang Golf Invitational on Dec. 7-11.