Fired-up Fernando eyes breakthru win

MANILA, Philippines - Despite his final round fold-up at Sabah Masters, former national champion Anthony Fernando remains upbeat of his chances for a maiden win as he vies in the P1 million BDO Canlubang Golf Invitational beginning tomorrow at Cangolf’s north course in Laguna.

Fernando blew a three-shot lead in Kota Kinabalu in the final round last Sunday and missed scoring a breakthrough victory in a three-year pro career. He settled for joint runner-up but remained in high spirits heading to the penultimate leg of the ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour.

“My ball striking is quite solid and I’ve gained a lot of confidence despite falling short of my title bid in Sabah,” said Fernando, who had a so-so campaign in his rookie year in 2009 then finished 17th in last year’s Order of Merit ranking with one second place effort at ICTSI Mimosa.

Meanwhile, Jhonnel Ababa, Fernando and the other leading pros test the Cangolf layout in the traditional pro-am tournament today along with officials and guests of the event’s chief backers, including MJ Carr Golf Management, Inc., Srixon, Callaway, Unilab, Titleist, Sharp, Custom Clubmakers, Mizuno, PinoyGolfer.com, Inquirer Golf, A Round of Golf, Studio 23, Balls, and Dynamic Sports.

Fernando is currently at No. 9 in the OOM standing with five top 10 finishes, including two third place stints at Del Monte and Riviera while contending for at least two leg titles before falling apart in the final round.

But his latest meltdown is expected to further toughen up the Davaoeño shotmaker, who will be joined in the hunt for the top P200,000 by a host of others also out to break their respective spells and a red-hot player chasing his fourth leg win on the tour organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments.

Marvin Dumandan, Ferdie Aunzo, Cassius Casas, Benjie Magada and Gerald Rosales are but some of the players seeking an end to a long title drought with Rosales coming off a strong finish at Sabah to salvage joint fifth.

But focus will still be on Ababa, who has racked three victories since nailing his first pro win at ICTSI Iloilo Golf Challenge last July, winning two of the last three legs, including a six-shot romp over Tony Lascuna and Mhark Fernando at ICTSI Calatagan two weeks ago.

Ababa moved from No. 5 to No. 3 in the OOM ranking, putting himself on track for a crack at the coveted title with two legs left in the 16-stage circuit sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc.

With P976,956 in earnings, the 24-year-old Ababa still stood half-a-million peso behind frontrunning Juvic Pagunsan, who stayed on top despite being out of the last six tournaments due to suspension with a total winnings of P1,474,604 on four leg victories.