Frankie Miñoza seeks elusive TCC Invt’l title anew

MANILA, Philippines—Frankie Miñoza, still a title threat as a senior, takes another crack at the only big local crown that has eluded him in his storied career when the 10th edition of the rich The Country Club Invitational tees off on Thursday.

Now a regular campaigner in the United States’ Champions Tour, the legendary star from Bukidnon sets out as the sentimental favorite against the Philippines’ finest as he tries to add the tournament to his collection of trophies that includes two Philippine Open crowns.

And the 51-year-old is well equipped to tame the winds of the exclusive course in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. Minoza’s best finish in the event came in 2006 when he lost in a playoff to Juvic Pagunsan.

Another favorite is Angelo Que, who will shoot for a third straight crown in the P4.5 million event that dangles P1.4 million to the champion.

No man has won the event three consecutive years and only Que and Pagunsan have won it more than once.

“It’s possible, but it’s going to be a tough challenge,” Que said.

But Que will be coming off a forgettable finish to his 2011 season. After his TCC win and another triumph at the Mount Malarayat leg of the ICTSI Tour, he missed five cuts on the Asian Tour.

Pagunsan will try to start the season strong after running away with the Order of Merit title while being named the players’ Player of the Year on the Asian Tour.

Aside from Miñoza, Elmer Salvador is the other legitimate star of the local tour who has never won the event.

The 72-hole event gets going with the traditional pro-am on Wednesday. It also serves as the kickoff leg of the 2012 ICTSI season that will have 15 legs and a total of P15 million in prize money.