ANGELO Que takes time out from his hectic Japan PGA Tour campaign as he rejoins the Philippine Golf Tour Asia’s ICTSI Manila Southwoods Championships, which gets going tomorrow (Tuesday, June 5) at the Legends course in Carmona, Cavite.
The power-hitting three-time Asian Tour champion only saw action on the local circuit twice this year, finishing tied for ninth at The Country Club Invitational last February and winding up joint 23rd in the Centennial Solaire Philippine Open last March before resuming his campaign in the lucrative Japan PGA.
But Que, who placed second to Miguel Tabuena in last year’s PGT Asia kickoff leg at Southwoods’ Masters, will surely be one of the top guns to watch in the 72-hole championship put up by ICTSI and organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. and serving as third leg of PGT Asia Season 2, this $100,000 event being held at the bunker-laden course he calls home.
He, however, will be in a for a tough and rough outing against a stellar international field all primed up for the battle for the top $17,500 purse coming off the ICTSI Riviera Classic last Sunday.
They include newly crowned champion Jobim Carlos, the former amateur hotshot who finally joined the elite roster of PGT Asia winners with a two-shot victory over multi-titled Tony Lascuña, Korean-American Micah Shin, who won one big tournament at Southwoods’ Masters late last year, Englishman Grant Jackson, who rallied to finish third at Riviera, and a slew of others raring to make up for their failed bids last Sunday.
Though Que has posted just one Top 10 effort in Japan in the Kansai Open in Hyogo last month, the 39-year-old Filipino ace shotmaker is currently vying for a Top 5 finish in the JGT Championship in Ibaraki.
That should give him the confidence and momentum heading to tomorrow’s start of the championship that has also lured the likes of Frenchman Janne Kaske, South African Mathiam Keyser, Englishman Matt Killen, American John Michael O’Toole, Australian Nathan Park and Koreans Park Jun Sung and Lee Song.
Also out to make up for their abbreviated stints at Riviera are this year’s PGT Eagle Ridge leg winner Guido Van der Valk of the Netherlands, Thai Tommy Mansuwan, Andrew Campbell of Australia, Thai Idtiphat Silasuwan and local aces Elmer Salvador, Marvin Dumandan, Ira Alido, Orlan Sumcad, Joenard Rates and Rene Menor.
Focus will also be on Jerson Balasabas and Clyde Mondilla with the former raring to rebound from his missed cut campaign at Riviera a week after scoring a breakthrough at the ICTSI Philippine Masters at Villamor, and the latter hoping to finally snap a long slump after dominating the circuit last year with four victories on his way to winning the Order of Merit crown.
But if there’s one player hungry for a local win, it would be Que, who hopes to mark his brief return on the tour backed by Custom Clubmakers, Meralco, Champion, Summit Mineral Water, K&G Golf Apparel, BDO, Sharp, KZG, PLDT and M.Y. Shokai Technology, Inc. with a resounding victory.