Casas upbeat of ICTSI Wack Wack title bid

MANILA, Philippines - Regaining his winning ways, Cassius Casas now feels more comfortable, confident of his game as he heads to the final leg of this year’s Philippine Golf Tour – the P2.5 million ICTSI Wack Wack Championship at Wack Wack’s East Course firing off Wednesday.

“I feel good, confident of my game,” said Casas after nipping Clyde Mondilla on the second playoff hole to capture the Canlubang Invitational crown recently.

He actually blew a three-stroke lead at the back but recovered in time to clinch the elusive win and snap a three-year title slump on the local circuit.

“Going through a playoff made the victory sweeter and more significant since it showed that I still got what it takes to win in pressure-packed moments,” he added.

But with the country’s top aces now back for the season-ending tournament, pressure is expected to be doubled for Casas as he tries to make it back-to-back in the ICTSI-sponsored event which offers P450,000, more than double of what he earned at Cangolf.

Miguel Tabuena, winner of the kickoff leg at Sherwood, is back after a series of Asian Tour campaigns and a failed but inspiring bid at US PGA Qualifier, along with Jay Bayron, who nipped Tabuena in a playoff to snatch the John Hay crown, and Elmer Salvador, the back-to-back winner at Aboitiz Invitational.

A host of others will also be going all out for the win, particularly those raring to end the season on a winning note. This includes Rufino Bayron, Ferdie Aunzo, Anthony Fernando, Jerson Balasabas, Jhonnel Ababa, Jun Bernis, Marvin Dumandan, Zanie Boy Gialon, Charles Hong, Rey Pagunsan, Gerald Rosales, Mars Pucay and Richard Sinfuego.

Two foreign bets, Dutch Guido Van der Valk and Japan’s Tomo Yoshinaga, are also tipped to contend for the crown in the 72-hole championship organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

Still, focus will be on Casas, who finally hit paydirt at Cangolf after snatching a lucky win at Del Monte in 2010 when three players were disqualified on a final hole infraction in the final round.

The ace Davaoeño shotmaker also hopes to flash his familiarity with Wack Wack’s East, where he reigned as Philippine Open champion in 2002.

The other backers of the event are Nike Golf, Srixon, Custom Clubmakers, Pacsports, Cleveland Golf, Callaway, Ping, Mizuno, Empire Golf and Sports Shop, FootJoy, Titleist, Sharp, BMW and Gergia Energy Foods.