Wide-open ADT Sherwood Hills Classic battle looms

NO ONE is listed as the clear favorite when the $60,000 ICTSI Sherwood Hills Classic tees off Wednesday with the local challenge missing its three biggest stars and the hottest foreigner on tour deciding to skip the event.

And with the ravine-laden layout doubly difficult at this time of the year because of the wind and humidity, it’s going to be anybody’s race for the $10,500 top purse.

Gavin Green of Malaysia, who won the Manila Southwoods stop last week, along with Miguel Tabuena, Angelo Que and Juvic Pagunsan, are in Japan for an Asian Tour event, leaving the door wide open in the Asian Development Tour leg.

Antonio Lascuña, the 43-year-old veteran who is coming off a so-so performance in Carmona last week, looms as the biggest local threat.

Rookie Jobim Carlos, who has a vast knowledge of the course, is also tipped to contend together with American John Michael O’Toole, the 23-year-old who shot a course record 10-under-par 61 in the second round at Southwoods.

Sherwood demands not only length off the tees but also precision in approach shots, most especially if the winds are blowing.

“It’s a challenging course, very windy and long,” O’Toole said after sampling the layout yesterday. “But definitely, I will give it my best shot.”

Meanwhile, Scotland’s James Byrne topped yesterday’s pro-am tournament with amateur partners Manny Salgado, Joey Crisostomo and Eric Virata as they pooled a 14-under 54 to beat Lascuña and teammates Harry Paltongan, Abe Avena and Rufino Bomasang by four.