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Salvador seeks to reclaim Merit crown
Coming off a record romp and with frontrunner Juvic Pagunsan out for the rest of the season, Elmer Salvador sets his sights on re-claiming the Order of Merit crown with three legs left on the ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour.
But the top Davaoeno shotmaker, who won the OOM plum in pro golf’s revival in 2009, will need no less than two victories and at least a third place finish in the remaining legs to overtake Pagunsan in the rankings and clinch the coveted title.
“It will be difficult but I will try my best,” said Salvador who posted a record 12-shot victory over Mars Pucay and Artemio Murakami in the last ICTSI PGT leg at Sherwood Hills.
The win, his first since topping the ICTSI Malarayat leg last year, helped Salvador hit the million-peso mark at P1,012,019 although he remained way behind Pagunsan, who had pooled winnings of P1,474,604 before he was sacked for the rest of the year due to misconduct.
Pagunsan dominated this year’s circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc., winning four legs (Royal Northwoods, Orchard, Eastridge and Davao) and turning in a pair of runner-up finishes (Mt. Malarayat and Del Monte).
But his absence revived Salvador’s hopes along with Jay Bayron, who is in third with P949,494 winnings heading to the 13th leg – the ICTSI Calatagan Challenge slated Oct. 26-28 in Calatagan, Batangas.
Tony Lascuna, still in search of a leg win in the circuit sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc., is in fourth with P786,219 followed by two-leg Jhonnel Ababa (P776,956), Marvin Dumandan (P537,572), Cassius Casas (P479,254), Mhark Fernando (P432,364), Anthony Fernando (P394,705) and Rufino Bayron (P341,804).
From Calatagan, the tour goes to Canlubang for the ICTSI Canlubang Golf Invitational on Nov. 9-11 before winding up at Wack Wack for the ICTSI Wack Wack Championship on Nov. 22-25.
Like the ICTSI Orchard Golf Championship, the Wack Wack event will offer a total prize fund of P2.5 million tournament with the winner receiving P450,000.
The event is backed by MJ Carr Golf Management, Inc., Srixon, Callaway, Unilab, Titleist, Sharp, Custom Clubmakers, Mizuno, PinoyGolfer.com, Inquirer Golf, A Round of Golf, Studio 23, Balls, and Dynamic Sports.
