ICTSI-PGT Canlubang leg slated Wednesday

ZANNIE Boy Gialon returns to the site of one of his triumphs next week, hoping to get it all together and regain his status as one of the budding stars of the ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour.

After winning twice in his rookie season last year, Gialon has struggled big time and looks at the Canlubang stop of the local tour starting Wednesday at the North course to regain his bearings and defend his championship.

“I just hope to get it all together,” said Gialon.  “My ball striking has been quite OK, but I’ve struggled with my putting.”

The 24-year-old used to call the Cangolf complex home under the defunct National Caddies Open program, even playing for a couple of years as a Sugar Baron in the Philippine Airlines Interclub.

The P1 million event also serves as the final tuneup for several Filipinos who will compete in the $750,000 Resorts World Masters of the Asian Tour at Manila Southwoods next week.

Jonel Ababa and Jessie Balasabas, Gialon’s teammates at Canlubang, are also entered together with former Philippine Open champions Cassius Casas and Robert Pactolerin.

Mars Pucay is also in the fold, likewise seeking to end a long title drought in the circuit backed by Nike Golf, Srixon, Custom Clubmakers, Pacsports, Cleveland Golf, Callaway, Ping, Mizuno, Empire Golf and Sports Shop, FootJoy, Titleist, Sharp, BMW and Gergia Energy Foods.

Another player who has also won at Cangolf but is also struggling is Artemio Murakami, whose 2011 triumph over the tree-lined South course was marked by a course record 64.

The leading pros get the chance to test the long, challenging par-72 layout in tomorrow’s traditional pro-am tournament together with amateur players from the event’s sponsors and chief backers.