THE postponement of the weather-disrupted ICTSI Valley Golf Challenge only fueled the competitive fire among the country’s top golfers, who are now brimming with anticipation to return to the fairways and resume their chase for glory.
After weeks of waiting, recalibrating and bracing through harsh weather conditions that gripped Metro Manila and nearby provinces, the men and ladies of the Philippine Golf Tour are more than ready to shake off the rust and swing back into contention as the ICTSI Caliraya Springs Championship gets going tomorrow, Tuesday, in Cavinti, Laguna.
With their momentum stalled since the Forest Hills stop last June, the pros have spent the delay productively – refining their swings, tightening their short games and sharpening their mental edge in anticipation of the next battle.
The unexpected lull may have tested their patience, but it only heightened their hunger to compete and prove themselves on the demanding Caliraya Springs Golf Club course.
For many, the layoff has created a bottleneck of competitive energy – now set to burst in what promises to be a riveting showdown in Laguna’s cool highlands. Rain or shine, these seasoned and rising stars are eager to make their mark and remind fans why they belong among the country’s golfing elite.
Guido van der Valk, who ended a long title drought with a one-stroke escape over Keanu Jahns and Angelo Que at Forest Hills, hopes to ride a wave of confidence into the P2 million championship, now serving as the fourth leg of this year’s Philippine Golf Tour (PGT) sponsored by ICTSI, following the postponement of the Valley stop.
But Que, who dominated the first two legs at Pradera Verde and Eagle Ridge before falling short at Forest Hills, is back in the hunt for another PGT crown. He’ll be joined by seasoned veteran Tony Lascuña and rising stars Aidric Chan and Carl Corpus, both of whom recently notched breakthrough wins on the Asian Development Tour in Morocco – strong performances that have thrust them firmly into the title conversation.
How those international victories translate to mindset, confidence and performance on home soil remains to be seen.
But with a strong cast of local and foreign aces all aiming to showcase their renewed form, expect a fierce battle for supremacy.
The talent-laden roster includes Jhonnel Ababa, Ira Alido, Rupert Zaragosa, Sean Ramos, Zanieboy Gialon, Mike Bibat and Jahns, along with international contenders such as Daiya Suzuki, Collin Wheeler, Tae Soo Kim, Tae Won Kim, Junichi Katayama, Jisung Cheon and Tae Won Ha, who are all raring to contend in the 72-hole tournament organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.
The 54-hole Ladies PGT is shaping up to be a tight contest as well, with Harmie Constantino looking to rediscover her winning touch on the same unpredictable course where she bested Pauline del Rosario by two strokes last year.
But recent results suggest a struggle with form for the former Order of Merit winner, who wound up 22nd at Pradera Verde, tied for 20th at Eagle Ridge, and shared 13th at Forest Hills.
Still, her familiarity with the Caliraya Springs layout could be a key advantage in her bid for redemption and a possible title repeat.
The compact 21-player women’s field is deep with talent and ready to strike at any opening. Princess Superal, a multiple-time winner, is eager to rediscover her dominant form, while Florence Bisera, Mikha Fortuna, Marvi Monsalve, Kayla Nocum, Koreans Tiffany Lee and Kim Seoyun, and Eagle Ridge leg playoff winner Mafy Singson all pose serious threats in what’s expected to be another tightly contested battle.
