Golf elites slug it out in TCC Invitational

MANILA, Philippines –  The cream of the country’s pro golf hope to come out strong from a long break as they battle it out for top honors in the rich The Country Club Invitational slated Jan. 27-30 at the windswept TCC layout in Laguna.

Angelo Que seeks his third crown as he heads the star-studded field that includes past TCC champions, the top finishers in last year’s ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour and the rising stars out to dispute the more than P1 million top purse in what has long been considered as the country’s golfing major championship.

Although the last three editions of the annual event were won in runaway fashions, this year’s title hunt is expected to be fierce and tight with the rest of the select 36-player field raring to spoil the fancied bets’ bid in the tournament, put up by golf patron Ricky Razon, chairman and CEO of ICTSI, the global leader in port management.

Que used a variety of shots under brutal conditions to get back at 2008 and 2009 tormentors Juvic Pagunsan and Artemio Murakami and won last year’s edition of the annual event via a five-stroke romp over Pagunsan.

But the power-hitting Que will be hard-pressed to duplicate his feat with the smooth-swinging Pagunsan and Murakami going all out to recapture the crown and a host of others all primed up for the big event held in honor of ICTSI founder Enrique “Don Pocholo” Razon Sr.

They include Jay Bayron, who copped local tour’s Order of Merit crown with a final leg victory at ICTSI-Canlubang, Marvin Dumandan, the winningest player on the circuit with three victories, 2009 OOM winner Elmer Salvador, and other former winners of the event – Cassius Casas, Tony Lascuña and Jerome Delariarte.

Others in the fold of what has become the country’s golfing major are the regular Filipino campaigners on the Asian Tour, headed by Mars Pucay, and the other top players in the OOM ranking, including Benjie Magada, Ferdie Aunzo, Ramil Bisera, Jun Bernis, Elmer Saban, Orlan Sumcad, Antonio Asistio II, Anthony Fernando, Danny Zarate, Richard Sinfuego, Rufino Bayron, Rey Pagunsan, Omar Dungca, Ebarra Quiachon, Michael Bibat, Randy Garalde, Richard Abaring, Joel Opaco, Cookie La’O, Joenard Rates, Gerald Rosales, Albin Engino, Ruben Sasutil and Roland Marabe.

Meanwhile, the traditional 18-hole pro-am event, featuring the leading pros and ICTSI’s guests from various sectors and event’s sponsors, will be held on Jan. 26 as a prelude to the keenly awaited four-day championship, serving as the kickoff leg of the ICTSI-PGT, which has lined up a 12-leg circuit this year.

Also in the cast are the country’s leading amateurs from the ICTSI golf stable, led by Dante Becierra and Peter Villaber and national team mainstays Chihiro Ikeda and Dottie Ardina, who will be using the tournament as part of their preparations for various international tournaments.

Que anchored his last year’s romp on a pair of 68s in the first two rounds then held off Murakami and Pagunsan’s final 36-hole charge with gutsy 71 and 72. But the long-hitting former RP Open champion hardly saw action on the local circuit last year, opting instead to campaign abroad.