Aussie eyes back-to-back wins in Aboitiz Invitational

MANILA, Philippines — Damien Jordan hopes to fit his power-hitting ways into Wack Wack’s tight East course when the Aussie ace launches his drive for back-to-back championships in the ninth Aboitiz Invitational unfolding tomorrow in Mandaluyong City.

Jordan set some sort of a norm by becoming the first foreign player to rule the annual event organized by Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc. in wire-to-wire fashion last year, beating Thai Namchok Tantipokhakul by four on a whopping 15-under (273) total to likewise nail his first PGTA crown at Orchard’s Palmer course in Cavite.

But with the event back at one of the country’s toughest courses, Jordan will need more than his power to confront the challenges lurking at every corner of what used to be the home of the Philippine Open, whose narrow fairways put premier on accuracy more than length, especially in the presence of the wind.

That could set the stage for four days of battle of wits among a crack roster of 108 bidders from at least 18 nations in the $100,000 event serving as the fourth leg of the third season of the put up by ICTSI.

Tantipokhakul and Wisut Artjanawat swept the first two PGTA legs at Luisita and Taiwan, respectively, with absentee Angelo Que prevailing at Southwoods last July, and the Thai duo, like Jordan, all fired up in their respective title drives in the 72-hole championship organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

Jay Bayron, meanwhile, spearheads the local challenge.