THE forecast of rains notwithstanding, the men of the Philippine Golf Tour (PGT) look to pound the Aoki course and provide some stellar play given their form and class as the International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) Eagle Ridge at Aoki Invitational unfolds Tuesday in General Trias, Cavite.
Eagle Ridge Golf and Country Club general manager Antonio Ocampo said that while the Isao Aoki-designed course, one of the championship courses inside the expansive golf complex, has been prepared and set up to challenge the country’s leading pros’ skills and wits, including its last line of defense, he expects a shootout in a field made more formidable by the presence of two Japan Tour campaigners.
“Rain is forecasted for the week. The greens are sleek but are rolling well and we expect excellent low scores because of the caliber of these pros,” Ocampo said. “The roughs aren’t too high, virtually making it negligible, although the course remains as challenging with many levels of difficulty present.”
As it stands, Juvic Pagunsan is the marked player, particularly after the former Asian Tour No. 1, who has not played on the Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc.-organized circuit since posting a record four-leg sweep in 2019, put himself in pre-tournament conversation with a runaway victory in a pro-am event last week.
Angelo Que is the other multi-titled player tipped to contend for the crown in the P2 million tournament put up by ICTSI with the former three-time Asian Tour champion also raring to mark his Tour return with a top podium finish after a tied for 11th effort in his last PGT event, also here last year.
EYES ON CHANELLE AVARICIO
CHANELLE AVARICIO sets out for another title crack with a form that continues to get better over time, poised to re-assert her mastery over a field she had dominated the last time out.
With Princess Superal opting to strike out her name in the roster for a much-needed rest following a grueling campaign in Thailand Ladies Professional Golfers Association, 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 PGT events, counting her playoff win over Superal at Hallow Ridge and a one-stroke escape over Chihiro Ikeda at Caliraya Springs, easily making her the player to beat in the 54-hole championship put up by ICTSI, which doubled this week’s prize fund to P1.5 million.
But she expects a stiffer challenge this time, particularly from Harmie Constantino, who is hoping to cash in on her own good run of form on a course where she reigned twice on her way to claiming the Order of Merit title right on her rookie season last year.
The former national champion upstaged Superal by two in bubble setup in the ICTSI Eagle Ridge Challenge in March 2021 then struck again when the circuit headed back to Aoki in November, edging amateur Mafy Singson by one.