Juvic cops ICTSI PGT merit crown

MANILA, Philippines - Juvic Pagunsan achieved what he had failed to do last year – clinch the Order of Merit crown despite missing the last six legs of the 2011 ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour.

With four victories in the first nine legs of the circuit, including the rich ICTSI Orchard Championship last May, Pagunsan amassed enough earnings to cushion the impact of his suspension due to misconduct at Aboitiz Invitational in Cebu last September.

Piling up winnings of P1,474,604, Pagunsan closed out the season on top of the heap, atoning for his last year’s fold-up when he yielded the coveted crown to Jay Bayron in the final leg at ICTSI Canlubang.

This time, he went to work early, winning the kickoff leg of the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc. at Royal Northwoods, topping the P2.5 million Orchard tilt, adding the Eastridge crown then annexing the Apo leg title for the third straight year.

The smooth-swinging Bacolod find is also set to crown himself Asia’s No. 1 as he leads the OOM race on the Asian Tour with two legs left on the strength of his runner-up finish in the Singapore Open early this month where he pocketed a whopping $666,660 (roughly P28 million), the biggest earning recorded by any Filipino golfer in one tournament.

Pagunsan also received a bonus prize of P50,000 from ICTSI PR manager Narlene Soriano for topping the OOM race. The Calatagan Golf and Country Club, host of the 13th leg, was also named the circuit’s top course with Zanie Boy Gialon winning the top amateur honors.

Elmer Salvador, winner of the OOM title in the revival of the pro tour in 2009, settled for second with P1,049,919, his bid to regain the crown hampered by his decision to campaign abroad after posting a record 12-shot romp at ICTSI Sherwood. He missed two of the last three legs and had a so-so joint 13th finish at the season-ending ICTSI Wack Wack.

Jhonnel Ababa proved to be the revelation as the former amateur standout racked up three victories this year, including a playoff win over Bayron at ICTSI Iloilo to finish third with P1,014,956. He also won the Riviera and Calatagan legs to clinch the Player of the Year honors in the event sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc.

Bayron settled for No. 4 with P987,394 while Tony Lascuna, who had another winless campaign, placed fifth with P932,819.

Frankie Miñoza, who topped the final leg at Wack Wack, jumped from No. 28 to No. 6 with P652,750 followed by Cassius Casas (P637,654), Rufino Bayron (P637,554), Marvin Dumandan (P618,722) and BDO Canlubang leg winner Artemio Murakami (P572,799).