Pagunsan, Miñoza head top-caliber Southwoods field

REIGNING Asian Tour No. 1 Juvic Pagunsan and the eminent Frankie Miñoza head the stellar cast seeing action in the P2.5-million ICTSI Manila Southwoods leg starting Wednesday in Carmona, Cavite.

Taking a break from the lucrative Japan Tour, Pagunsan will be playing just his second tournament in the local circuit. He finished seventh in the Eastridge Classic earlier this month.

The 35-year-old Bacolod ace is the logical favorite at the Masters course, a relatively wide layout that puts premium on length off the tees and pinpoint approaches.

The wind and the sleek greens will be the Masters’ primary defenses, and Pagunsan, who honed his skills at tree-lined Canlubang and later on at The Country Club in Sta. Rosa, has the edge.

The last time Miñoza—a two-time Order of Merit in the defunct Asian Golf Circuit—won was last December when he fought back from seven shots down in the final round to rule the Wack Wack Challenge.

Aside from the duo, Angelo Que will also see action, as well as all the players in the top 10 of this year’s Order of Merit race.

The champion of the 72-hole leg, one of a few on the Tour with a huge pot, will pick up P450,000.

Two other big legs—the Aboitiz Invitational in Cebu and the Orchard Championship, both scheduled in August—remain in the 16-stop circuit.

Antonio Lascuña, who finally hit paydirt on the Tour with a win at Eagle Ridge last month, former Philippine Open champion Elmer Salvador and two-time champion and rookie Miguel Tabuena, are also seeing action at Southwoods.

Jay Bayron, John Hay Invitational winner Marvin Dumandan, Jun Bernis, Ferdie Aunzo, Charles Hong, Carl Santos-Ocampo and Clyde Mondilla are the others given an even chance to pull an upset.