Salvador targets PHL Golf Tour Order of Merit title

Even with three legs left on the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour (PGT), Elmer Salvador may yet emerge as the winner of the Order of Merit (OOM) title for the 2011 season. Salvador, who registered a swash-bucking 12-shot victory at Sherwood Hills more than a week ago, needs to win two and finish at least third on the last leg to reclaim the OOM title from front runner Juvic Pagunsan. But with Pagunsan, with total earnings of P1.47-million, out of the rest of the season after being suspended by tournament organizer ICTSI, Salvador (P1.01-million) assumes the challenger's role. Jay Bayron, third with P949,494, is also in the running. Salvador, the 2009 OOM champ, resumes his bid for the OOM crown at the start of the ICTSI-Calatagan Challenge at the Calatagan Golf Club in Batangas on October 26. "It's going to be an uphill climb from hereon. I'll try my best to get the OOM," said Salvador, a former lake boy in Davao, in Filipino. Antonio Lascuna is in fourth with P786,219 followed by two-leg winner 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 November 9 to 11 before winding up at Wack Wack for the ICTSI-Wack Wack Championship on November 22-25. Like the ICTSI Orchard Golf Championship, the Wack Wack event will offer a total prize fund of P2.5 million with the winner receiving P450,000. — Adrian Flores/JVP, GMA News