MANILA, Philippines - Having beaten the cream of the country’s pro crop, with a talented foreign rival to boot, in the country’s premier golf championship, Elmer Salvador now focuses his sights on a bigger stage – the Asian Tour.
“Angelo (Que) said that I could get an Asian Tour exemption for being the RP Open champion,” said the reticent Salvador, moments after humbling the country’s revered pros to capture the 2009 Philippine Open crown at Mt. Malarayat’s layout.
They included Que, the British Open veteran whom he dethroned with a solid four-day displaying of solid shotmaking, two-time champion Frankie Miñoza, top 2009 Asian Tour finisher Juvic Pagunsan, and Asian Tour regulars Tony Lascuña, Mars Pucay and US Open veteran Artemio Murakami.
It was Salvador’s third win in the season, counting his two victories on the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour, with the Davaoeño shotmaker now eyeing a stint at the region’s flourishing, lucrative circuit.
But one thing that could stymie Salvador’s dream of getting an exemption is that the just-concluded RP Open was not sanctioned by the Asian Tour following a breakdown in negotiations with the National Golf Association of the Phils. to include the event in this year’s calendar.
Still, the newly crowned RP Open king can try his luck in the Asian Tour Qualifying School early next year, where he can showcase his awesome form.
“I hope I could get sponsors to play there,” said Salvador.
Or he can wait to defend his crown probably early next year with the NGAP looking for a late-March or early-April date for the Open to be included in the 2010 Asian Tour calendar. – Joey Villar