In-form Salvador opens bid

RESURGENT former Philippine Open winner Elmer Salvador tees it up as one of the favorites today as the P2.5-million Central Azucarera de Tarlac Open blasts off at the picturesque Luisita Golf Club.

Salvador snapped a two-year title drought with a come-from-behind victory in the local tour’s Splendido leg in Tagaytay two weeks ago, giving him all the confidence he needs to play well this week.

A sprinkling of Asian Development Tour stars has toughened up the field that also includes Filipino stalwarts and Antonio Lascuña, Clyde Mondilla and Jay Bayron.

The long-hitting Mondilla has an edge over everyone else because of his length, but tree-lined Luisita will certainly punish errant drives.

Multiple-leg winners Lascuña, Mondilla and Bayron have a side tournament of sorts going, as the trio will be disputing the Philippine Golf Tour Order of Merit title.

Americans Peter O’Toole, Josh Salah and Nick Sherwood, leg winners this year in the ADT, head the foreign challenge.