North, South aces gun for strong starts today

FOUR-BALL (best-ball) action fires off The Duel, a Ryder Cup-style event featuring the country’s finest golf pros, today with both the North and South squads shooting for a strong start at Alabang Golf and Country Club.

“With similarly strong and balanced lineups, it is possible for either team to make a sweep in the first two days—4-0, 0-4,” said North team captain Angelo Que. “It will be a great, tough series.”

Que and his squad will be trying to make a strong start for the second straight year and finish the job this time.  The North blew a 9-7 lead last year by winning just three of the final day’s 12 singles matches to yield the crown.

Japan Tour campaigner Juvic Pagunsan banners the South, which will be skippered by Jerome Delariarte, as it goes for a repeat victory.

“What we want is a good start, a lead going into the singles” said Delariarte.

Que joins Mars Pucay in a clash with the pair of Antonio Lascuña and Clyde Mondilla starting at 7 a.m. before Pagunsan teams up with Rufino Bayron in an interesting match against Miguel Tabuena and Edward Reyes at 7:10.

Michael Bibat, the former Asian Games bronze medalist, and former Philippine Open champion Gerald Rosales come out for the North at 7:20 in a duel with Marvin Dumandan and Zannie Boy Gialon.

Jay Bayron and Ferdie Aunzo, two former caddies at Apo Golf in Davao, battle Carl Santos-Ocampo and James Ryan Lam in the 7:30 a.m. group.

Matches in the afternoon foursomes will only be announced after the first skirmishes.

The three-day event is backed by KIA, Ping, Nike Golf, Custom Clubmakers, Mizuno, Pacsports, Callaway, Cleveland, FootJoy, Srixon, Titleist, Empire Golf and Sports Shop and Sharp.