Big guns vie in Aoki Invitational

GEN. TRIAS, Cavite, Philippines — The forecast of rains notwithstanding, the men of the Philippine Golf Tour look to pound the Aoki course and provide some stellar play as the ICTSI Eagle Ridge at Aoki Invitational unfolds today.

Juvic Pagunsan, Angelo Que and Dutch Guido Van der Valk banner the field and will slug it out in the Isao Aoki-designed layout, one of the championship courses inside the expansive golf complex.

Eagle Ridge Golf and Country Club general manager Antonio Ocampo said that while the par-72 course has been prepared and set up to challenge the country’s leading pros, he expects low scoring in all four days of the P2 million championship.

In the women’s side, Chanelle Avaricio sets out for another title crack beginning today against a field she dominated the last time.

The ICTSI has doubled the total purse for the ladies to P1.5 million.

With Princess Superal out following a grueling campaign in the Thailand LPGA, Avaricio faces practically the same set of rivals she trounced on her way to posting an imposing six-stroke triumph in the Pradera Verde Ladies Classic last month.

That was her third victory in the last five Ladies Philippine Golf Tour events, counting her playoff win over Superal at Hallow Ridge and a one-stroke escape over Chihiro Ikeda at Caliraya Springs.

Avaricio remained as the player to beat in the 54-hole championship put up by ICTSI, which doubled this week’s prize fund to P1.5 million.