Bowen eyes 3rd tour win at Aboitiz

MANILA, Philippines - James Bowen hopes to brandish the same form he flaunted in Jakarta last week as he seeks to nail a third victory on the Asian Development Tour in the rich Aboitiz Invitational which unwraps tomorrow at the Cebu Country Club in Cebu City.

Bowen closed out with back-to-back two-under 70s to beat Taiwanese Chan Shih-chang by two for the Jakarta Classic crown over the weekend with the 27-year-old American, who also won the Harvard Masters in Malaysia last February, all fired-up heading to the Philippine leg of the $65,000 event serving as the seventh stage of the ADT, a feeder circuit to the Asian Tour.

“I’m feeling great. Winning two pro titles in a year is a great accomplishment for me. It really means a great deal to me. I feel like my hard work is finally paying off,” said Bowen.

“I had a great boost in confidence and I’m very excited about the remaining season. It would be great if I can win again before the season ends,” added Bowen, zeroing in on one of three Asian Tour cards for 2014 staked in this year’s ADT.

But he will be as much tested as the rest of the big 126-player field vying for the Aboitiz Invitational crown with two other ADT leg winners in the fold, including Mitsuhiko Hashizume of Japan, who topped the Harvard Masters in Malaysia, and Johor Masters champion Grant Jackson of England.

Former titlists Brian Locke of the US, Peter Richardson of England and Dutch Guido Van der Valk have also confirmed their participation in the 72-hole championship also serving as the eighth leg of the ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour.

Jay Bayron, winner of the inaugural Aboitiz Invitational in 2011 and last year’s ADT Order of Merit champion, heads the strong local challenge that includes three-time Asian Tour winner Angelo Que, reigning ICTSI PGT OOM champion Tony Lascuna, veteran Mars Pucay and teener Miguel Tabuena.

Elmer Salvador, who beat Lascuna by six here last year, is also out for a back-to-back romp, guaranteeing four days of top-notch golfing action from the elite field that also includes Carl Santos-Ocampo, Charles Hong, Edward Reyes, Michael Bibat, Zanie Boy Gialon, Artemio Murakami, Rufino Bayron, Clyde Mondilla, Mhark Fernando, Gerald Rosales, Rey Pagunsan, Ferdie Aunzo and Cassius Casas.

The leading pros will test the par-72 layout in today’s pro-am tournament which also features officials and guests of the event’s chief backers, including International Container Terminal Services, Inc., Nike Golf, Srixon, Custom Clubmakers, Pacsports, Cleveland Golf, Callaway, Ping, Mizuno, Empire Golf and Sports Shop, FootJoy, Titleist, Sharp and BMW.

Meanwhile, the international field will see action in the ICTSI Classic, another ADT event, on July 31-Aug. 31 at the wind-ranked Mt. Malarayat Golf and Country Club in Lipa City, Batangas.