Aboitiz Invitationall tees off; Juvic Pagunsan withdraws

CEBU—The aces of Philippine golf open their bid for a breakthrough Asian Development Tour victory Wednesday in the $65,000 (P2.7 million) Aboitiz Invitational presented by ICTSI 2011 at the Cebu Country Club here.

They will be going to battle without the red-hot Juvic Pagunsan, though, after the former Asian Tour rookie of the year and winner of four legs in the season’s local pro tour pulled out at the last minute because of a foot injury.

Pagunsan’s absence from the 72-hole tournament, the first PH event to be included in the tour, has thrown the chase for the championship wide open.

ADT winners Kao Shang-hung and Chiang Chen-chih, both of Taiwan, stand at the forefront of the crack foreign challenge in the 106-player event.

Meanwhile, Elmer Salvador towed his team that also included Derrick Chua, Robert Tiu and Joe Soberano to victory with a 55 in yesterday’s pro-am tournament.

Gene Bondoc and teammates Boy Escano, Bruce Chiongbian and Noel Ybañez placed second with 56 while Andy Choi and partners Carol Cunningham, Bruce Winton and Gen Nagai finished third with a 57.

Kao is fresh off his victory in the Ballantine’s Taiwan Championship of the ADT last week.

Also notably missing from the tournament are Angelo Que, who is playing in the Omega European Masters in Switzerland, and Frankie Miñoza, who has a playing commitment in Japan.

The event, sponsored by Aboitiz Equity Ventures (AEV) which is into power, financial services, food and transportation business and presented by International Container Terminal Services, Inc., is backed by MJ Carr Golf Management, Inc., Srixon, Callaway, Unilab, BDO, Titleist, Sharp, Custom Clubmakers, Mizuno, Empire Golf & Sports Shop, PinoyGolfer.com, Inquirer Golf, Omnisource International, A Round of Golf, Studio 23, Balls, and Dynamic Sports.