EIGHT of the top 10 players in the Philippine Tour’s Order of Merit ranking along with a host of talented amateurs crowd the field as the P1M Davao National Pro-Am unwraps today at the Apo Golf and Country Club in Davao.
Juvic Pagunsan, winner of four of the first nine legs of the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour and the current OOM frontrunner, heads the chase for the top P172,000 purse in the 54-hole event presented by Samsung, hoping to keep his win streak at the quaint par-72 layout he has mastered the last three years.
The smooth-swinging Bacolod pro has ruled the ICTSI Apo leg for three straight years, including a four-shot romp over homegrown bet Elmer Salvador three weeks ago, making him the player to beat in the event held in coordination with leading retail network Emcor.
But Pagunsan needs to draw the best from amateur partner Rico Trajano in the alternate shot format where one has to set up a good shot for the other to produce a low score the way Edgar Ababa and Paul Echavez did in beating Dan Cruz and Jerson Balasabas by five strokes last year.
Salvador, No. 2 in the OOM race, is teaming up with Ludwig Ledesma, No. 3 Tony Lascuna is with Jun Serado, while No. 4 Jhonnel Ababa has partnered with Benjie Leparto. No. 5 Mhark Fernando, fresh from his maiden pro victory at ICTSI Del Monte last week, has tapped Bong Cabang as his partner, reigning OOM champion Jay Bayron will team up with Alemar Etrone, while No. 9 Orlan Sumcad has partnered with Bien Cerbo.
Frankie Minoza, the former two-time Philippine Open champion, makes a rare appearance on a local tournament as he teams up with Ting Castillo. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio