Miñoza recalls defining win; Aboitiz golf on
CEBU CITY— Frankie Miñoza has fond memories here. Returning to the site of the win that catapulted him to national stardom as a 17-year-old, Miñoza seeks a first ICTSI Tour victory this season when the Aboitiz Cebu Country Club Invitational fires off Wednesday over this short but tricky, 82-year-old course. “That was a long time ago,” said a smiling Miñoza in Filipino, when reminded of his victory 33 years ago during the National Amateur finals. “This course has changed so much since then,” added Miñoza, before teeing off for the traditional Pro-Am yesterday. “But it still remains as tricky as before. You have to hit it straight because nothing close to even par will win this tournament.” He pits skills in the P1 million event against the country’s younger stars, including Angelo Que, who is fresh off his playoff triumph over Briton Chris Rogers for the Selangor Masters title of the Asian Tour on Saturday. Juvic Pagunsan and Miñoza protégé Artemio Murakami, as well as reigning Philippine Open champion Elmer Salvador, are also in the field, making the chase for the P200,000 top prize a wide-open race. “I’m not playing my best golf (despite the Asian Tour win) but I am thinking my best golf,” Que said. “I don’t expect much from myself here because every time I come off a win and expect too much, the opposite happens.” Most of the big guns believe that something close to 10 under par for 54 holes is needed to have a title chance at the course, which plays to just over 6,500 yards, way short of international standards they are used to. “The greens are very small and they are not biting,” Jay Bayron, second placer thrice this season, said in Filipino. The 10th leg of the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments is also backed by MJ Carr Golf Management, Jaguar, Land Rover, Studio 23, Balls TV, Srixon/Cleveland Golf, Callaway, Odyssey and Golf Punk and media partners Inquirer Golf Monthly, Business Mirror, A Round of Golf, Pinoygolfer.com and Omnisource.
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