ICTSI Riviera: Mhark Fernando back in old haunt

MANILA, Philippines—Mhark Fernando tries to assert his mastery of Riviera’s dreaded Langer layout when he joins the ICTSI Riviera Classic which gets going Wednesday.

Fernando, then spearhead of the national team, survived the harsh playing condition and humbled the local pros to win in September 2009, beating Ferdie Aunzo, Richard Sinfuego and Edwin Sanchez by three shots.

One month later, Fernando topped the PH team elims also at the up-and-down par-71 Langer course.

His confidence boosted by a breakthrough victory as a pro at ICTSI Del Monte Championship last month, Fernando looms as one of the players to beat in the 54-hole event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. and sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc.

Fernando, however, downplayed his chances in the P1 million event serving as the 11th leg of the 16-stage ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour.

“It’s always an anybody’s race when you play Riviera,” said Fernando. “But I like my chances although everybody can win there. It will depend on one’s form and the condition of the course.”

Former club pro Marvin Dumandan is the other player to watch in the event with last year’s three-leg winner hoping to exploit his familiarity with the hazard-laden layout.

Fernando and Dumandan and the other leading pros get the chance to test the course as they play in the traditional pro-am tournament Tuesday.

They will be joined by guests and officials of the event’s chief backers, including MJ Carr Golf Management, Inc., Srixon, Callaway, Unilab, BDO, Titleist, Sharp, Custom Clubmakers, Mizuno, PinoyGolfer.com, Inquirer Golf, Omnisource International, A Round of Golf, Studio 23, Balls, and Dynamic Sports.

With Juvic Pagunsan, winner of four of the tour’s first 10 legs out for the rest of the season, the chase for the top P200,000 purse turns into anybody’s race with Jay Bayron fancied to crowd Fernando and Dumandan for the crown.

Bayron now has P883,994 earnings, still way behind Pagunsan’s P1,474,604 winnings, but can catchup with six more legs left in the circuit.