The ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour winds up its 2015 season with the P3.5 million ICTSI Tournament Players Championship beginning Wednesday at Sherwood Hills Golf Club in Trece Martires, Cavite.
Focus will not only be on the chase for the top P650,000 purse but also for Tour cards next year.
Only the top 40 players in the money list after the 15-leg tour will gain automatic playing rights next season with the rest going through the qualifying school set early next year.
After 14 stops, players ranked from Nos. 35 to 60 are closely bunched, ensuring a fierce battle in all four days of the championship.
Tony Lascuña, who missed extending his reign as the top money earner for the fourth straight year with a failed title bid at ICTSI Open at Wack Wack two weeks ago and a dismal finish at Central Azucarera de Tarlac last week, heads the cast.
Miguel Tabuena ruled both events, the first in come-from-behind fashion and the other in overpowering style to crown himself the new Order of Merit champion with one leg left in the circuit sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc.
Tabuena has begged off to compete this week on the Asian Tour in Japan, along with two-leg winner Angelo Que and Aboitiz Invitational champion Juvic Pagunsan.
Regardless, Tabuena has secured the OOM title with earnings of P3,051,917 that included two other victories at Splendido and Rancho Palos Verdes.
Lascuña dropped to second with P2,385,960 and will still fall short of toppling Tabuena even if he wins the Players event.