CLARK Freeport Zone — A 55-player field strewn with the country’s top pros raring to showcase their power takes the stage when the ICTSI Mimosa Plus Championship fires off Tuesday here in Pampanga.
As the pros continue to hit the ball to ever-increasing distances, the par-72, 6,508-yard layout could be theirs for the taking although their unfamiliarity with Acacia layout could provide barriers to success in the P2 million championship serving as the 10th leg of this year’s Philippine Golf Tour season.
“You need to have great driving as well as putting,” said Reymon Jaraula, one of the four aces in the fold who are gunning for a second victory in the season about to end, the three others being Tony Lascuña, Rupert Zaragosa and Jhonnel Ababa.
“The course is in tip-top condition,” said Zaragosa, who also dominated the Iloilo leg for his breakthrough PGT victory last March. “The key here is taking as many birdies as you can, those who have good putting got the edge.”
Jaraula and Zaragosa test each other in the 8 a.m. on No. 1 in one of featured flights that includes Taiwanese Ting Yu Chen, an invitee of the organizing Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc. from the PGA Tour of Taiwan.
Ababa, who snapped a long title drought with a thrilling victory at Villamor Philippine Masters last May, drew Elmer Salvador and Art Arbole in the 7:40 a.m. group.
Also on the first hole is Lascuña, who dominated the Caliraya Springs leg. They tee off next at 7:50 a.m. in the company of Dino Villanueva and Albin Engino.
Also in contention is Marvin Dumandan who squandered a chance to end a long title spell at South Pacific in Davao last week
Nilo Salahog, who showed the way in the first 36 holes at South Pacific, is also all fired-up to get going again and sustain his charge to the finish. He starts at 7:20 a.m. in the company of noted big-hitters Keanu Jahns and Dumandan.
Guido van der Valk, still in search of the form that netted him The Country Club Invitational diadem for the second straight year, likewise looks for a strong start in the 7:30 a.m. group that includes former leg winner Zanieboy Gialon and journeyman Rico Depilo.
