Pros face severe golf test at Riviera tilt

SILANG, Cavite—The country’s top golfers face a wide range of tests—from the tricky layout, the testy putting surface and the wind—in the P1 million ICTSI Riviera Classic today at Riviera’s Langer course here.

Jay Bayron is out to make it two in a row after stamping his class with a brilliant final-round blitz in the Aboitiz Invitational in Cebu three weeks ago.

Mark Fernando hopes to re-display his mastery of the par-71 layout while Marvin Dumandan is upbeat of his chances on a course he used to call home.

With Jhonnel Ababa and Robert Pactolerin raring to book their second leg titles on the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour and a host of others going all out for a first victory on a busy season, the battle for the top P200,000 purse in the 54-hole tournament organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. is indeed expected to be fierce.

But the field faces an assortment of challenges at the demanding layout which requires not just precise shot-making and steady putting but also mental toughness.

The absence of some of the tour’s big guns, who are competing in the Macau Open also this week, makes the title chase in this 11th leg of a 16-stage circuit, sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc., even tighter.

Rufino Bayron and Anthony Fernando are hoping to finally strike gold along with Antonio Asistio II, and Erwin Vinluan.

Ferdie Aunzo, out to end a long title drought after winning at Royal Northwoods last year, is also tipped to contend for the crown in the event backed by 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.