Salvador, pal seize control

DAVAO, Philippines  – Elmer Salvador and Ludwig Ledesma combined for a two-under par 70 in tough conditions to wrest a one-stroke lead over the Raul Miñoza-Bunny Abaño pair at the start of the Davao National Pro-Am presented by Samsung at the Apo Golf and Country Club here yesterday.

Salvador, who shot an eight-under 64 to finish second to Juvic Pagunsan in the ICTSI Apo Invitational three weeks ago, and Ledesma rallied with a 34 at the backside to emerge the leading pair in a 90-team starting field in the 54-hole P1 million tournament played under the alternate-shot format.

Minoza and Abaño combined for a 35 at the front to finish with a 71 while only three teams matched par as the tour’s big guns struggled with their respective amateurs, who include leading players in the ranks, on a tight course made tougher and longer by overnight rains.

Antonio Asistio II and Brent Sumampong, and Jun Bernis and Toffee Tionko strung up identical 36-36 rounds while Ernie Rellon and top amateur Marcel Puyat, on a break from his studies at Stanford U, overcame a 38 at the front with a 34 for joint third.

In the hunt with 73s are the pairs of Eddie Bagtas-Aris Mata, Ramil Bisera-Toshiaki Shinmura, Boboy Jaraula-Raymond Jaraula, and Randy Garalde-Ryan Co, while the Jong Laput-Rex Goquinco and Dodot Ababa-Vincent Gumapac tandems stood at 74 and Larry Villasencio and Ariel Villasencio made a 75.

Pagunsan, winner of the ICTSI Apo leg of the Philippine Golf Tour the past three years, struggled in his partnership with Rico Cajili in the foursomes format, hobbling with an 82 to fall 12 shots off the pace.

Jay Bayron and Alemar Etrone fumbled with a 40 at the front and wound up with a 76 to join the group of Cassius Casas-Benjie Senining, Charles Hong-Zanie Boy Gialon, and Sonny Villaber-Gen Nagai.

“The course is tough due to rains the past few days,” said Casas, one of the local bets tipped to contend for the top P172,000 crown in the event sponsored by Samsung and held in coordination with top retail network Emcor.

Frankie Miñoza and Ting Castillo sputtered at the back with a 41 but salvaged a 77, the same output put in by Tony Lascuña and Jun Serado, Richard Sinfuego and Bobby Iñigo, and Fernando Lumawag and Julius Susarno.

Mhark Fernando, coming off a big victory in the ICTSI Del Monte Classic in Bukidnon last week, also had an awful start with partner Bong Cabang as the duo made an 83.

Most of the big guns also wavered with homegrown bets Lascuña carding a 77 with partner Jun Serado, Ferdie Aunzo and Monchit Mocay shooting a 78, Anthony Fernando and Larry Pasquil making a 79, and Jhonnel Ababa, winner of the ICTSI Iloilo stage, and Benjie Leparto had an 81 in a tie with Marvin Dumandan-Anthony Sasin and six others.

Other backers of the tournament are Kawasaki, Apo Golf and Country Club, Cargo Serv, Goetz, Transworld, Malayan Insurance, Dasia Security, LVL Construction and Vigor Construction while minor sponsors are Skygo, Camel, JD Alvarado Architects, RDV Printing, Koppel, Unicenter, The Hive, Business Mirror, Microtel Davao, Air Philippines Express, Footjoy and Titleist by Empire Golf, Mizuno, Custom Clubmakers, Glucoscare and Omnisource Int’l.