Zarate guns for win No. 2 in RP golf circuit

MANILA, Philippines — Inaugural leg winner Danny Zarate starts his title defense against some 70 veteran and upcoming professionals Monday in the ICTSI Eagle Ridge Invitational at the Eagle Ridge Golf and Country Club in General Trias, Cavite. Zarate and the field test the mettle of the tough par-72 Andy Dye course, which is hardened by afternoon rains in the last couple of days, in the 54-hole tournament, the second leg of the 10-stage Philippine Golf Tour. “It’s going to be tough out the there," said Zarate, referring to the course. “It would take more of the mental war more than skills this week." Zarate scored a major victory—his first in a long while—over sophomore Marvin Dumandan in the season-opening ICTSI Classic at the Mount Malarayat. But he shied away from active competition and resumed practice only recently. Still the noted star of the 1990s remains the main man. “I’ve always been a fighter on the course. No matter what the odds are, one thing is for sure-that I’ll be targeting my second win and another P200,000 top prize purse," said Zarate, a former Order of Merit winner of the defunct Philip Morris Golf Tour. Dumandan is also expected to weave his magic this week and erase the stigma of losing a spirited duel with the more-experienced Zarate. “I’m still young. I just have to keep trying," he said. Aside from Zarate and Dumandan, the players to look out for are Asian Tour veteran Mars Pucay, Antonio Lascuna, and Jerome Delariarte, Robert Pactolerin, Elmer Salvador plus rookies Ferdinand Aunzo and Anthony Fernando, both former stalwarts of the ICTSI amateur stable. Also tipped to figure for the title in the second leg of the 10-stage tour are Cassius Casas, Joenard Rates, Orlan Sumcad, Erwin Arcillas, Vic Santia, Jomar Pepito, Jay Bayron, Chris delos Santos, Rodrigo Cuello, Danny delos Santos, Antolin Fernando, Ruben Sasutil, Richard Sinfugeo, Rico de Pilo and Carito Villaroman. In the amateur side, ICTSI stars Tonton Asistio, Rufino Bayron, and Dante Becierra are installed as favorites. –GMANews.TV