Golf: Minoza aims to make it two in a row at Pueblo de Oro

Cagayan de Oro - The field at the P1-million ICTSI Pueblo de Oro Championship is expected to be chasing senior champion Frankie Minoza, winner of the Del Monte leg, as he guns for a consecutive triumph at the Pueblo de Oro Golf and Country Club, beginning Wednesday.  

Minoza, now a very ripe 53, blasted away the field in his hometown Bukidnon, capping his sterling performance with an outstanding nine-under-par 63 for a five-shot win over Antonio Lascuna and Elmer Salvador last week.

The veteran campaigner, who won The Country Club Invitational to start the season and Japan Senior Tour recently, is using his stints here as tune-up for the forthcoming Senior British Open from July 25 to 28 at Royale Birkdale.

He will be in for a tough outing though as Angelo Que, who was victorious in the Orchard Classic leg in May but skipped the first two Mindanao legs these past two weeks, has his sights on the P200,000 prize as well.

An early shootout among the big guns looms with Que set to start at 7:10 a.m. with Salvador and Ferdie Aunzo on number one, while Minoza will be a flight behind at 7:20 a.m. with Cassius Casas and defending champion Charles Hong.

On number 10, Lascuna, the ICTSI Calatagan leg champ is pitted against ICTSI John Hay leg champion Jay Bayron in another marquee match-up, with Jacques Van Tonder, one of the invited players from Africa, completing the 7:10 a.m. flight.

Meanwhile, Salvador guided his team composed of Jeff Rolida, Vic Tiu and Amador Que Jr. to victory in the pro-am tournament today with a combined 17-under 55.  

Lascuna’s group of Marc Lu, Ryu Rolida and Tommy Jeong ended with a 16-under 56, while Mhark Fernando and amateur partners Marlon Santiago, Dennis Mijares and Rul Leonen placed second runner-up with a 15-under 57. - AMD, GMA News