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Tagaytay
City—Rookie pro Michael Bibat is picked to spring a
surprise against his more illustrious rivals—Angelo Que,
Juvic Pagunsan, Felix Casas, Mars Pucay and Tony Lascuna—in
the Mercedes-Benz Masters Philippines, which unfolds
Thursday at the Tagaytay Midlands Golf Club.
The tall
and burly Bibat, who won the Konica Minolta U-Bix Pro-Am
with former national team member Anthony Fernando, made
six birdies and only two bogeys to stress his readiness
to take his second career major victory in the $50,000
second leg of the Mercedes-Benz Tour. The event is also
the first leg of the fledging Asean Golf Tour exclusive
to players in the Asean Region.
 “It is
going to be a tall order, because there are so many
talented golfers in the field, which includes Que,
Pagunsan and company. Of course, I will be there in
fighting form, too,” said Bibat, who tied for 41st place
in the inaugural event in Jakarta, Indonesia, last
week.
Like
Bibat, the British Open-bound Que is also hoping to
build a minirun after he claimed the Asian Tour’s
Philippine Open at Wack Wack in April. He has been
focusing on getting back his championship rhythm to have
a shot at the $8,075 (or about P340,000) champion’s
purse.
“I am
feeling pretty confident after last week’s performance
in Indonesia. I have played here at Tagaytay Midlands
about five times before. It can be a tough track,
particularly if the wind blows,” said Que, who moved up
to No. 1 spot in the Mercedes-Benz Tour Order of Merit.
Que now
has a total earnings of $18,576, dislodging Malaysian
Danny Chia, who has pocketed $16,211. Pucay, who won two
Asean Golf Tour events in 2007, is in third with
$16,015.
Pagunsan,
the 29-year-old from
Bacolod
City, has not been hoisting the trophy lately and is
also keen at getting an ego-boosting win here.
A total
of 107 players have entered the four-day event
coorganized by Asean Golf Tour with CATS Motors Inc.
“We are
delighted that all the top golfers in the Philippines
are competing this week and also that so many leading
players from overseas are here,” said Felix Ang,
president of CATS Motors Inc.
Meanwhile, Malaysian pro Mohd Sukree Othman and amateurs
Kyoung Ill-park and Luciano Zanirato combined for a net
18-under-par 54 to snatch away the crown in the pro-am
side event at the Tagaytay Midlands Wednesday.
Carito
Villaroman, vice president of the Touring Professional
Golfers Association of the
Philippines,
copped the runner-up tiara with an aggregate 17-under 55
together with partners Varun Berry, Adrian Wood and
Daniel Go. |
