Salvador seeks to erase 2010 debacle at ICTSI Del Monte

MANILA, Philippines – Redemption will be foremost in Elmer Salvador’s mind starting on Wednesday when the P1-million ICTSI Del Monte championship tees off at the tough Del Monte course in Bukidnon.

The former Philippine Open champ will be gunning to erase the memory of a final-hole infraction that disqualified his flight and robbed him of a win in 2010 at the tree-lined course.

And he will be coming into the event on a high of sorts after finishing second to Juvic Pagunsan at Apo Golf in Davao on the strength of a brilliant final-round eight-under-par 64.

Pagunsan will be out to win a fifth leg on the local tour this season and is among the favorites along with Angelo Que.

Salvador was on the verge of winning in Bukidnon in 2010, when his flight that included Pagunsan and Richard Sinfuego was disqualified for an infraction.

A rule that supposedly “assisted players” was breached and the threesome was DQ’d after holing out, giving Cassius Casas, the third placer in regulation play who finished two flights ahead, the championship.

Artemio Murakami, Antonio Lascuña, Mars Pucay and Jay Bayron will also be in the Del Monte field in the event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tours, Inc. and supported by the International Container Terminal Services, Inc.

Meanwhile, Pagunsan pulled away in the Order of Merit race. He boosted his total earnings to than P1.2 million with Salvador second with a little less than P600,000.

The leading pros get the chance to test the layout as they see action in the traditional pro-am on Tuesday along with guests and officials of the event’s chief backers—MJ Carr Golf Management, Inc., Srixon, Callaway, Unilab, BDO, Titleist, Sharp, Custom Clubmakers, Empire Golf & Sports Shop, PinoyGolfer.com, Inquirer Golf, Omnisource International, A Round of Golf, Studio 23, Balls, and Dynamic Sports.