THE CONFIRMATION of Japan PGA Tour standout Juvic Pagunsan has made the ICTSI Orchard Championship a star-studded event and a wide-open race.
Pagunsan, the country’s No. 1 who is taking a break from the lucrative Japanese circuit, and Angelo Que, the Asian Tour ace and former Philippine Open winner, are the logical picks as players to beat in the P2.5 million event teeing off tomorrow.
Asian Tour veterans Antonio Lascuña and Elmer Salvador are the other seeded entries in the 72-hole event.
Que is seeing action in the circuit for the first time this year and will be coming off an impressive fifth-place finish in an Asian Tour event in Indonesia late last month.
Pagunsan, the ICTSI Order of Merit winner two seasons ago, and Lascuña, who bagged the same award last year, are also both in fine form with Lascuña hoping to ride the momentum of a win in Calatagan two weeks ago.
Jay Bayron, the reigning Asean Tour Order of Merit champ, is also in the field and is seeking a second victory this year following his triumph at Camp John Hay in Baguio. Miguel Tabuena, the prodigious teen, is also entered.
Meanwhile, the leading pros play in today’s pro-am where they will be paired with officials and guests of the sponsoring ICTSI and the event’s chief backers Nike Golf, Empire Golf and Sports Shop, Mizuno, Titleist, Srixon, Foot Joy, Callaway, Pacsports, Custom Clubmakers, Cleveland Golf and Sharp. Musong R. Castillo