Pagunsan fends off Salvador rally, tops Cangolf invitational

Juvic Pagunsan played steadily to card a one-under-par 71 fending off the late rallies of Elmer Salvador and Angelo Que to win the ICTSI-Canlubang Golf Invitational, the final leg of the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour, at the North course of the Canlubang Golf Club in Laguna. Pagunsan to close out with a nine-under 207 overall to pocket the P200,000 top prize. It was a repeat of his runaway victory at ICTSI-Apo Classic last July where he led from start to finish to post a six-shot win over Artemio Murakami and Jerome Delariarte before skipping the rest of the ICTSI-PGT circuit to resume his campaign on the Asian Tour.

Salvador, a two-leg winner on the tour sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc., birdied two of the last five holes to salvage an even par 72 for 210. Still, he won the ICTSI Order of Merit title with a total earnings of P784,652. Que, who is set to defend his crown in the Philippine Open, shot a second consecutive four-under 68 but simply ran out of holes to overhaul the six stroke deficit before the final round. He received P92,500 for tying Salvador at second. Pagunsan’s win and Que’s joint runner-up finish make them the early favorites in the Philippine Open slated at Mt. Malarayat in Lipa, Batangas next week where they will be joined by top Filipino player Frankie Miñoza. Jay Bayron, who ruled the ICTSI-Forest Hills leg of the circuit backed by MJ Carr Golf Management, had a 71, in fourth at 211. Each got P45,000. Danny Zarate, winner of the kickoff leg at Mt. Malarayat, rallied with a 69 and gained a joint sixth finish with Ricky Marcelo, who fired a 71, at 214 worth P32,500 each, while Cassius Casas also turned in a 69 for a share of eighth with rookie pro Anthony Fernando, who carded a 74, at 215. Each received P24,500. Venjo Reyes, who went five-under after the first nine holes in the first round, also fired a 69 to fnish solo 10th with a 216 worth P23,000. – Adrian Flores, GMANews.TV