MANILA, Philippines - Mhark Fernando, Jerson Balasabas and Miguel Tabuena wrap up their build-up for this week’s Asian Games as they join the title hunt in the ICTSI Mimosa Golf Challenge firing off Wednesday at the Mimosa Golf and Country Club in Clark, Pampanga.
The troika will be among the 20 amateurs competing against the 77 pros in the 54-hole tournament serving as the penultimate leg of the 13-stage circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. But Fernando, Balasabas and Tabuena will use the tournament more as a tune-up for the Asiad campaign.
The US-based Marcel Puyat, the other player in the national squad, will join the team in Guangzhou in time for the golf competitions set to start Nov. 17.
The other amateurs seeing action in the P1 million event are ICTSI-The Country Club squad composed of Dante Becierra, Carl Santos-Ocampo, Zanie Boy Gialon, Sonny Villaber and Peter Villaber.
Ushering in the 54-hole event is the pro-am tournament tomorrow with the leading pros teaming up with the invited amateur guests from the chief backers of the event sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc.
Reigning national champion Clyde Mondilla is also in the fold along with Miguel Ochoa, Jet Mathay, Glenn de Leon, Justin Limjap, Andrew Stroud, Dino Jimenez, Joeleo Torrecampo, Richard Joson and the ICTSI-Cangolf team headed by Tommy Manotoc, Jobim Carlos and Art Arbole.
Marvin Dumandan, winner at ICTSI-Sherwood, heads the chase for the top P200,000 purse in the event with the power-hitting Davaoeño shotmaker seeking his second straight title and third overall after ruling the last leg at ICTSI-Royal Northwoods.
Out to foil his bid are leg winners Elmer Salvador, the reigning Philippine Open champion, Cassius Casas and Benjie Magada with the rest of the big guns, including Juvic Pagunsan, Jay Bayron, Angelo Que, Frankie Miñoza, Artemio Murakami and Mars Pucay competing in the $6 million Singapore Open set to start Thursday.
But the Mimosa field remains tough as ever with Ferdie Aunzo, Antonio Asistio II, Rufino Bayron, Jun Bernis, Michael Bibat, Gene Bondoc, Jerome Delariarte, Anthony Fernando, Cookie La’O and veterans Robert Pactolerin, Richard Sinfuego, Danny Zarate and Rey Pagunsan joining the chase for top honors.