PH, Asia’s best vie in Aboitiz golf

THE BEST golfers from the Philippine Golf Tour and the Asian Development Tour will be in Cebu next week to compete for the $65,000 cash prize in the Aboitiz Invitational 2012 slated Aug. 8 at the Cebu Country Club golf course in Banilad.

Headlining the powerhouse roster will be two-time champion Jay Bayron, who graced the launching press conference yesterday with fellow golfers Miguel Tabuena, the 17-year old prodigy who already has two titles in the local circuit this season and 2012 Johor Masters winner, and Luke Bleumink of Australia.

Also present were general manager of the PGT Colo Ventosa; ADT director  Jitti Tampraset; Cebu Country Club general manager Jeric Hechanova and Aboitiz Equity Ventures Chief Reputation Officer Susan Valdez.

Bayron, currently the second-ranked player on the ADT money list, is aiming for this third straight title in Cebu following his five-shot win over compatriot Marvin Dumandan last year.

He will be going up against a talented field that boasts of the top-five players on the ADT Order of Merit along with newcomer Ryan Bulloch of Australia, the current leader on the Order of Merit, Peter Richardson of England and Australian Anthony Choat.

“Hindi talaga masisiguro ang panalo next week. Mahirap ang greens at roughs dito sa course na ito atsaka malakas din ang hangin,” said the soft-spoken Bayron, who will not only go up against the top competition from abroad but also from the local front.

Asian Tour No. 1 Juvic Pagunsan is in the list with the smooth-swinging shotmaker, also the reigning ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour OOM winner, tipped to contend for the crown along with fellow Asian Tour campaigners Tony Lascuna, Angelo Que, Mars Pucay and Artemio Murakami.

Local rising star Tabuena, said that he is confident enough to battle with the big shots in spite of his neophyte status.

“Every time I compete, I always believe that I’m going to win. I’ve won two titles on the local tour already and that will help my confidence going into next week’s event,” he said.

The Aboitiz Invitational is title sponsored by Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc., and International Container Terminal Services, Inc. as presenting sponsor. Other sponsors include Empire Golf, Titleist, Footjoy, Callaway, TaylorMade, Mizuno, Srixon, Nike Golf, Custom Clubmakers and Sharp. /Corresondent Jonas Panerio