THE untested and unheralded layout of the Lakewood Golf and Country Club in Cabanatuan City will be the next playground of the ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour which kicks off on Tuesday (June 4) in Nueva Ecija.
The club is hosting a tournament of this caliber for the first time and its unfamiliar terrain and greens theoretically levels the playing field.
Fresh challenge for tour pros
The players though will have a chance to examine the nuances of the 7,049-yard layout in today’s (Monday) pro-am tournament. The course boasts of multi-bunker fairways and 16 man-made lakes.
While the seasoned campaigners look to dominate, the young talents aim to sustain their impressive performance from the last PGT leg in the Philippine Masters, where Hyun Ho Rho dueled veteran Angelo Que before losing steam in the stretch, settling for a runner-up finish.
The 19-year-old Korean is eager for another shot at a breakthrough win, the same target eyed by Aidric Chan, who finished solo sixth, and Ryan Monsalve, who ended up seventh after leading the first two rounds.
A couple of aces who won two of the first four legs of this year’s 10-stage tour, organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. and supported by PGTI official apparel Kampfortis Golf, also seek to redeem themselves from mediocre performances at the Masters, including Apo leg winner Jhonnel Ababa and Caliraya Springs champion Clyde Mondilla.
Tony Lascuna, who tied for third the last time, is also expected to figure in the title hunt in the P2.5 million championship, along with fellow former leg winners Rupert Zaragosa, Reymon Jaraula, Guido van der Valk, Michael Bibat and Zanieboy Gialon.
Que skips tournament
Que, however, is not playing due to a previous commitment, while Lloyd Go, who shared third place with Lascuna and amateur Jeffren Lumbo at the Masters, will be competing in Japan.
Sean Ramos, Dino Villanueva, Jay Bayron, Nilo Salahog, Russel Bautista, Kristoffer Arevalo, Ivan Monsalve and Jonas Magcalayo may spring a surprise.
Daiya Suzuki, who tied for eighth at the Masters, Ozeki Kakeru, Fukuyama Kota, Collin Wheeler, Kang Chonkoo, Koi Inoue and Myungchal Hwang will be the foreign bets out to foil the local favorites.
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