CARL Santos-Ocampo has joined the already stellar field in the P1-million ICTSI Splendido Classic teeing off tomorrow and is tipped as one of the favorites to rule the event and sweep the local tour’s Tagaytay swing.
Santos-Ocampo routed the field in the Midlands leg two months ago after opening up with consecutive seven-under-par 65s.
And with the Splendido layout and playing conditions likely to be the same as that at Midlands, Ocampo certainly knows what it takes to win there.
A good showing in the 54-hole tournament will also boost Ocampo’s quest to top the Order of Merit title for the first time.
Running fifth behind Antonio Lascuña, Miguel Tabuena, Angelo Que and Elmer Salvador, Ocampo still has a shot at OOM title with still four legs to go in the 15-stage circuit that culminates with the Wack Wack leg in December.
Lascuña, though, is also in the field and the hottest player in the tour right now.
With four runner-up finishes and a sterling performance for a repeat championship in the Southwoods leg just last month, Lascuna still looms as the player to beat in the event organized by the Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc.
And there is a slew of other crack contenders in the fold, led by Jay Bayron, Michael Bibat, Jonel Ababa and Mars Pucay.
Other backers of the event are Nike Golf, Srixon, Custom Clubmakers, Pacsports, Cleveland Golf, Callaway, Ping, Mizuno, Empire Golf and Sports Shop, FootJoy, Titleist, Sharp, BMW and Gergia Energy Foods.