Pagunsan-Que clash looms as TCC gets going
CANLUBANG, Laguna—Juvic Pagunsan and Angelo Que loom as the players to beat when the 10th edition of the rich The Country Club Invitational tees off Thursday at the exclusive, wind-swept layout here.
Pagunsan, recently crowned as Asia’s No. 1, and Que, who is seeking to win the event for the third straight year, are the biggest names in the select field that also includes the revered Frankie Miñoza, who is shooting for a breakthrough win in the event that stakes a P1.4 million top prize.
Meanwhile, Enrique Razon, Philippine golf’s biggest benefactor, yesterday officially opened the tournament after hitting the ceremonial drive that also ushered in the traditional pro-am.
The event also kicks off the 15-leg ICTSI Pilipinas Golf Tour and all 36 players are raring to get a strong start for the season by figuring prominently in the P4.5 million, 72-hole event.
Richard Sinfuego and Robert Trota went on to rule the pro-am event, combining for a 12-under-par 60 to clinch the top P70,000 purse plus Apple iPhone 4S, an Apple iPad (16 GB WiFi 3G) and a TechnoMarine UF6 Magnum watch.
Ebarra Quiachon and Bernie Gan pooled a 61 to finish second worth P50,000 and a TechnoMarine watch while Artemio Murakami and Chito Alarilla fired a 63 for third worth P30,000 and an Apple iPad2 (16GB WiFi 3G).
Pagunsan is using the event to get a busy 2012 going. The sweet-swinging 33-year-old from Murcia town in Negros Occidental will be seeing action in the Japanese Tour and has an exempt status in the British Open after claiming the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit crown.
And as usual, Pagunsan would rather let his game do the talking.
“No one has an advantage at TCC since it’s a tough course especially in the presence of the wind,” said Pagunsan in Filipino. “If the winds come into play, you have to make a good contact with the ball.”
Que, on the other hand, has always come into the TCC in good form.
“I’m optimistic of my chances but I expect it to be tougher because of the many young golfers plus the veterans,” said Que.
