Tour top guns begin quest in TCC Invitational

MANILA, Philippines - An elite 36-player field, featuring the cream of the country’s pro crop, sets out in the rich The Country Club Invitational beginning today each one raring to put on low scores on a tough TCC course that requires accuracy and mental toughness.

The last two results of the annual P4.7 million event ended in lopsided fashions with Angelo Que beating Juvic Pagunsan by five strokes last year and Artemio Murakami romping off with a record 13-shot rout over Que in 2009.

But this week’s battle for the top P1.4 million purse is tipped to go down to the last putt or perhaps wind up the way it did in 2006 when Pagunsan nipped Frankie Miñoza in a playoff.

For one, Que and Pagunsan will be the men on a mission, each seeking to become the first player to score three wins in what has become the country’s golfing major in terms of prize money and participation.

Murakami and former winners Tony Lascuña, Cassius Casas and Jerome Delariarte are also raring to score a repeat while Miñoza and the rest of the field are going flat out to nail the big one.

That should make the first two rounds doubly interesting with the big guns, save for one or two, avoiding an early clash of will and shotmaking skills by landing in separate flights.

Que, who also ruled the 2007 staging of the annual event sponsored by golf patron and ICTSI chief Ricky Razon, is paired with Danny Zarate and fellow former Philippine Open champion Gerald Rosales in the 8:40 a.m. flight on No. 1.

Pagunsan, who also won in 2008, tees off next at 8:50 a.m., hoping to get going against Gene Bondoc and Ruben Sasutil while Murakami opens his bid at the back in the company of Richard Sinfuego and Albin Engino at 8:35 a.m.

Miñoza, whose presence in the event has become an inspiration to the young talents, drew Lascuña and Ebarra Quiachon in the 8:30 a.m. flight, just ahead of Que and Pagunsan’s groups.

Others in the hunt are Jay Bayron, who won last year’s Order of Merit crown, Marvin Dumandan, the winningest player on the tour last year with three victories, Mars Pucay, Elmer Salvador, Benjie Magada and Antonio Asistio II.

No less than a strong start is expected from this talent-laden cast, each out to build confidence and momentum heading into the weekend play of the 72-hole championship, which also serves as the kickoff leg of this year’s ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour.