17-stop ICTSI Tour blasts off next week

There will be five new stops in a record 17 legs in this year’s schedule of the ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour that gets going with the Splendido Taal tournament next week in scenic Tagaytay.

The March 28 to 30 stop is among the new tournaments in the circuit that will feature this time a Ryder Cup-style event in Alabang in May pitting the best players from Luzon against their counterparts from the Visayas and Mindanao.

Hosting the other new tournaments are Rancho Palos Verdes in Davao, Eagle Ridge in Cavite, one in Southwoods in Laguna and those in Alabang and Tagaytay.

Competition will be for 54 holes except for the Aboitiz Invitational at the Cebu Country Club in August and the Southwoods leg in June.

“We are happy to have added five new legs, making it a 17-stage circuit,” said Colo Ventosa, general manager of the organizing Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc. “The competition will be tougher with the participation of more local pros and we are looking forward to another successful season.”

Juvic Pagunsan won the Order of Merit title last year, while Jonel Ababa, who won three legs last season, was voted Player of the Year.

The circuit ends in December at Wack Wack East, the fabled site of the Philippine Open where Frankie Miñoza won last season after coming back from seven strokes down in the third round.

Eagle Ridge plays host on May 23 to 25, while the North-South duel slated on the exclusive layout inside posh Ayala Alabang is slated May 28 to June 1.