P3.5-million tour opener big guns head tough cast in ICTSI Anvaya

MORONG, Bataan, Philippines – The best and the brightest slug it out beginning today – all aiming for a hot start and the momentum in what promises to be an explosive launch to the new ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour season – the P3.5 million ICTSI Anvaya Cove Invitational at the Anvaya Cove Golf and Sports Club.

They’re all here. From Order of Merit winner Miguel Tabuena to defending champion Angelo Que to former OOM champion Tony Lascuña and veteran campaigners Elmer Salvador, Jay Bayron, Frankie Miñoza, Mars Pucay and Cassius Casas to the young guns Clyde Mondilla, Keanu Jahns and Edward Reyes.

Put in the qualifiers from both the local and foreign elims and a host of lesser lights ready to steal the thunder from the big guns, the kick-off leg of this year’s 15-stage circuit put up by International Container Terminal Services, Inc. could easily rank as a major championship from among the country’s premier golf tournaments.

Tabuena, the hottest player on the land today with a Philippine Open victory and a strong joint fourth place effort at Singapore Open last month, faces an early test of will as he drew Lascuña, Bayron and the long hitting Marvin Dumandan in one of the featured flights at 8:48 a.m. on No. 1.

“I feel good, confident and I want to win this one,” said Tabuena during yesterday’s pro-am.

Lascuña and Que, who tied for 38th with Tabuena in last week’s Myanmar Open, opted to skip yesterday’s traditional pro-am for the much-needed rest following a grueling two-week grind on the Asian Tour, eager to fuel their respective title campaigns with strong starts.

The 45-year-old Lascuña, the former three-time PGT OOM winner, is actually fighting off flu-like symptoms but confirmed he’ll play together with the former three-time Asian Tour winner Que.

“I hope to get better tomorrow (today) but I’ll be there,” said Lascuña, who played nine holes in Pampanga yesterday to hone up for the big event.

Que said he’ll be arriving today and vowed to join the 7:55 a.m. flight on No. 10 with Miñoza, Michael Bibat and Japanese Toru Nakajima, a former leg winner in the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. who topped the recent four-day Q-School at Royal Northwoods.

“I’ll play,” said Que, who set a course record 64 in the final round to beat Lascuña by three here last year.

Given the course condition, with the wind blowing from all over under intense heat, a host of unheralded but solid players could grab the spotlight from the fancied bets in the event backed by Adidas, TaylorMade, Pacsports Phils., Custom Clubmakers, KZG, Sharp and Anvaya Cove Golf and Sports Club.

“It will be a question of shotmaking and club selection,” said Casas, who will play alongside Pucay, Japanese Yuta Sudo and Artemio Murakami at 7:48 a.m. on No. 1.