Shootout looms as TCC tilt tees off

A shootout among the country’s golf aces looms when the rich The Country Club Invitational unfolds Thursday at the upgraded TCC layout in Santa Rosa, Laguna.

Miguel Tabuena, fresh off a share of third place in last week’s Myanmar Open, heads the favorites’ roster with fellow Asian Tour campaigners Juvic Pagunsan, Angelo Que and Tony Lascuna.

Pagunsan wound up joint second in the recent Singapore Open and is expected to contend for his fourth TCC title. Also gunning for a record fourth crown is Que.

Lascuna, on the other hand, is the reigning king in the Order of Merit race of the ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour.

“It will be a new course for everyone and it will be fun to play against the country’s best,” said the 22-year-old Tabuena.

The quartet took the first flight back home from Myanmar to prime up for the P5 million event put up by ICTSI chair and president Ricky Razon in 2003.

Also bidding for the P1.5 million top purse are two-time champion Cassius Casas and Artemio Murakami. —ROY LUARCA