Rising Asian stars boost Aboitiz field

MANILA—Some of Asia’s rising stars will join the chase for the $65,000 Aboitiz Invitational championship which Jay Bayron will try to win for the second straight year next week at the Cebu Country Club layout in Cebu.

Chinese-Taipei’s Hsu Chia-jen, TJ Kim of South Korea and Nick Redfern of Britain are among the foreign bidders seeing action in one of the Asian Development Tour’s final events.

Bayron also has to hurdle most of the brightest local talents led by the red-hot Juvic Pagunsan, the second placer last year, and a host of other Asian Tour veterans itching to win for the first time this season.

“I know it will be tough, but I will be ready,” the soft-spoken Bayron said in Filipino.

The ICTSI-presented event will be different from the previous legs of the local tour as it will be played over 72 holes, unlike last year when Bayron held off Pagunsan by two shots over 54 holes.

The relatively short CCC course is being spruced up into championship shape, with the roughs cut according to Philippine Open standards and fairways narrowed to punish errant tee shots.

The tournament will play an important role in determining the top three players on the ADT’s Order of Merit as the Asian Tour gives outright exemptions to the top three placers.