Top guns, rising stars duel in ICTSI opener

MANILA, Philippines - Wack Wack’s fabled East course, one of the oldest layouts in the country, will provide a true test of golf and a virtual theater for four days of excellent shotmaking when the P3.5 million ICTSI Open Championship unfolds today.

The rolling, tight fairways and sleek greens are expected to challenge the men of the tour with Tony Lascuña slugging it out with Jay Bayron and Elmer Salvador and Angelo Que facing off with young turks Miguel Tabuena and Clyde Mondilla in early clashes of the fancied bets.

The six occupy the top seven places in the current Order of Merit ranking with money leader Lascuña leading Tabuena by just P28,000 and Que another P14,000 back, guaranteeing a spirited chase for the top P650,000 purse right in the first round of the 72-hole championship sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc.

“It’s pressure right in the opening hole. There’s hardly room for mistakes here since all the OOM contenders are bunched together,” said Lascuña, who surged past Que with a runner-up finish in the last ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour leg at Summit won by Bayron.

The reigning three-time OOM champion underscored his readiness for the tournament by piloting his team composed of Terry Capistrano, Marlon Villanueva and Justin Limjap to the pro-am victory with a 16-under 56, two strokes ahead of Cassius Casas and partners Nemi Pagtakhan, Nestor Gimenez and JA Coching, who had a 58.

Rey Pagunsan, with Hubert Lim, Oliver Gan and Liberato Tan, placed third with a 59.

Lascuña, No. 4 Salvador and the fifth-running Bayron start at 7:45 a.m. at the backsideQue, winner of three Asian Tour legs, including the Phl Open here in 2008, hopes to come out strong in their 11:25 a.m. flight on No. 1 where he will test Tabuena and the No. 7 Mondilla’s mettles in what promises to be an action-packed start of the 13th leg of the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

But while Lascuña and Que primed themselves up for the event by taking part in full-packed pro-am tournament, Tabuena begged off at the last minute after suffering a minor accident at home early yesterday.

The 21-year-old shotmaker, however, confirmed he’ll compete in the tournament proper, ensuring a strong international cast, including Koreans and Japanese in the event backed by Custom Clubmakers, Titleist, Nike Golf, PacSports, Callaway, Srixon, KZG, Sharp and Foot Joy.

No. 5 Orlan Sumcad, meantime, drew an 11:30 a.m. start, also on No. 10, in the company of Mars Pucay and Randy Garalde while No. 8 Ferdie Aunzo mixes it up with Artemio Murakami and Rufino Bayron in the 7:40 a.m. group on No. 1 and No. 10 Cassius Casas, who also won the Phl Open here in 2001, hopes to relive his glory days as he begins his title drive at 7:35 a.m. on No. 10 with Paul Echavez and Japanese Yuta Sudo.

But focus will be on Lascuña, Tabuena and Que, all chasing not only a third leg victory this year but a win so crucial in their respective OOM title bids.

Meanwhile, the Luisita Golf and Country Club in Tarlac will host the first Central Azucarera de Tarlac Open on Sept. 16-19 before the circuit winds up at Sherwood Hills Golf Club for the ICTSI Tournament Players’ Championship on Sept. 23-26.