DASMARIÑAS, Cavite—Coming off a two-week break, Angelo Que again opens his bid for a first title for the year Wednesday as the top local hope in the $60,000 ICTSI Orchard Championship at the Palmer layout here.
The three-time Asian Tour winner has come close several times this year but just couldn’t bag it.
“I have a slight advantage as far as local knowledge goes,” said Que of his chances in the Asian Development Tour event that stakes a top purse of $10,500.
The Palmer course, which already boasts slippery greens, has been lengthened to more than 7,000 yards, giving the long hitters like Que an edge.
American Brett Munson, an ADT leg winner this year, and Briton Peter Richardson, who was joint second to Elmer Salvador last week at The Riviera, are two of the fancied foreign title bidders.
Munson and Richardson will be in the featured flight together with Que starting at 11:15 a.m. from No. 1.
With Salvador deciding to play in the Asian Tour’s Queen’s Cup this week in Thailand together with Antonio Lascuña, Jay Bayron, Miguel Tabuena and Mars Pucay, the veteran Robert Pactolerin, Cassius Casas and the in-form Charles Hong will be the other major local contenders.
“It’s all about putting your approaches in the right places on the greens,” said Pactolerin, who stalked the leaders at Riviera last week only to falter in the final round. “If you land it in the wrong spots, it will be very easy to post huge numbers.”
Tournament backers: Nike Golf, Pacsports Phils. Inc., Srixon, Callaway, Mizuno, Empire Golf, Footjoy, Titleist, Custom Clubmakers, Sharp and KZG.