ACTION in the regular ICTSI Tour takes a break next week with the holding of the Ryder Cup-style North vs South event that tees off on June 5 at Alabang Country Club.
The Southerners, led by the in-form Antonio Lascuña, are looking for a repeat victory in the event known as “The Duel.”
Play will be foursomes (alternate shot) and fourball (best ball) of four matches each in the first two days with 12 singles matches slated in the final day with the first team to win 14 ½ points clinching the Duel crown.
Lascuña is the hottest player on tour who will see action in the Duel and he will be backstopped in the South squad by former Philippine Open champion Elmer Salvador, Ferdie Aunzo and the soft-spoken Jay Bayron.
Teen prodigy Miguel Tabuena banners the North, which will have several unheralded bets in Ryan Lam, Joenard Rates and Edward Reyes.
Mars Pucay, Carl Santos-Ocampo and former Asian Games bronze medallist Michael Bibat are the other big names in the North squad which is completed by Randy Garalde, Benjie Magada, Gerald Rosales and Jun Bernis.
Lascuña won the Calatagan stop before being gobbled up in the final round of the Orchard Championship by Angelo Que over the weekend to finish second, four shots behind.
Que and another big star, Juvic Pagunsan, are not seeing action in The Duel because of commitments abroad.
A pro-am tournament will precede the Duel on June 3 with the leading pros teaming up with the amateur players from the sponsoring ICTSI and backers Kia, Ping, Nike Golf, Custom Clubmakers, Mizuno, Pacsports, Callaway, Cleveland, FootJoy, Srixon, Titleist, Empire Golf and Sports Shop and Sharp.