Local stars seek first ADT triumph

MANILA, Philippines - A stellar cast of local shotmakers, including current Order of Merit frontrunner Juvic Pagunsan, hopes to make full use of the proverbial “home-court advantage” and deliver a first Filipino winner on the Asian Development Tour when the Aboitiz Invitational presented by ICTSI fires off at Cebu Country Club beginning Aug. 31.

Pagunsan, winner of four of nine legs on the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour, heads no fewer than 52 Filipino players vying in the 72-hole $65,000 event, the first tournament in the Philippines to be featured on the fledgling ADT. No local player has won on the ADT which was launched by the Asian Tour last year and Pagunsan looms as the best bet to record the first win owing to his form, momentum and confidence.

The likes of Michael Bibat, Almer Salvador, Ferdie Aunzo, Miguel Tabuena and Marlon Dizon are also going all out to win at home and propel their careers as the ADT serves as the road to the established Asian Tour.

With the Aboitiz Invitational being the penultimate event on the eight-tournament ADT calendar this year, so much is as stake in the blue-ribbon event as the top-three players on the Order of Merit will earn Asian Tour cards for 2012.

At present, Artemio Murakami, an Asian Tour leg winner, is the highest ranked Filipino on the ADT rankings at third place. Tabuena, 16, is ranked 22nd and needs a big finish at the Aboitiz Invitational to improve his chances.

Gerald Rosales, Antonio Lascuña, Mars Pucay and former Philippine Open champion Cassius Casas will also be looking to leave an impression in the newest ADT event.

Other prominent international players who will compete in the Aboitiz Invitational, staged in partnership with the ICTSI-PGT, include current ADT Order of Merit leader Chiang Chen-chih and Hsu Chia-jen of Chinese Taipei, Korea’s T.J. Kim, Impian Classic champion Jonathan Moore of the US and Dutchman Guido van der Valk.

Focus will also be on the promising Mithun Perera of Sri Lanka, who turned pro last year after a solid amateur career which included a victory at the Asia Pacific Amateur Championship. 

The partnership between the ADT and ICTSI-PGT will heat up competition as Filipino pros will slug it out with Asia’s rising stars in the event backed by MJ Carr Golf Management, Inc., Srixon, Callaway, Unilab, BDO, Titleist, Sharp, Custom Clubmakers, Mizuno, Empire Golf & Sports Shop, PinoyGolfer.com, Inquirer Golf, Omnisource International, A Round of Golf, Studio 23, Balls, and Dynamic Sports.

Erramon Aboitiz, president and chief executive officer of Aboitiz Equity Ventures, said the event will not only generate more interest in golf as a sport, but will showcase Cebu as a tourist destination and economic hub as well. 

The Aboitiz Equity Ventures (AEV) has an impressive portfolio of businesses, which include power, financial services, food and transportation.