3rd leg of ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour tees off today in Batangas

JHONNEL Ababa, Mhark Fernando and Tony Lascuna tee off in an early flight in what is expected to be a fierce battle for the title in the ICTSI Calatagan which begins today at the Calatagan Golf and Country Club in Batangas.

Ababa, chasing a third leg win on the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour, drew a 6:50 a.m. start with Gene Bondoc and Carl Santos-Ocampo,  eager to get going on a course he, Fernando and a few others, are so familiar with, having made the rolling par-72 layout their base during their amateur days.

Fernando is also out to redeem himself from mediocre finishes in the last three legs of the circuit after scoring his maiden win at ICTSI Del Monte last August.

Paired with Michael Bibat and Ruben Sasutil, he is set to start at 7 a.m. when playing condition is expected to be ideal. But the former national champion, who missed the cut at the rich Aboitiz Invitational and finished outside of the top 10 at ICTSI Riviera and ICTSI Sherwood, said emphasis will be on the long game since the tight course punishes errant drives.

Lascuna, perhaps the best player never to have won a leg since ICTSI revived the pro circuit in 2009, tees off ahead of Fernando at 6:50 a.m. in the company of Arnold Villacencio and Jun Bernis, upbeat of his chances in the P1 million event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.  /Correspondent Jonas Panerio