PGT wraps up 10th season

So it’s a question of course management and of course, putting.

KEANU Jahns tries to settle an unfinished business in Davao.

The Philippine Golf Tour caps its milestone 10th season fittingly on a course making its first hosting of the country’s premier circuit — the ICTSI South Pacific Classic which gets under way tomorrow at the South Pacific Golf and Leisure Estates in Catalunan Pequeño in Davao City.

Coming off back-to-back victories in Taiwan and at Apo the last two weeks, Tony Lascuña easily stands out as the marked man in the P3-million event but the veteran shotmaker will be practically as clueless as the rest of the stellar international field on the challenges posed by the bunker-laden course hosting a tournament of this magnitude for the first time.

The par-72 layout opened its first nine holes in June 2016 with the other nine completed last Sept. 2018.

It features long par-4s and sleek surface with Bermuda 419 turf grass on the tees, roughs and fairways and Zoysia grass on the greens.

But with the pros in competitive form coming off a series of tournaments, a low scoring battle looms in all four days of the championship also serving as the fourth leg of the Mindanao swing of the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

“What makes this event interesting is that no one holds an advantage at South Pacific — familiarity-wise. So it’s a question of course management and of course, putting,” said Lascuña, who remains confident of stretching his win run to three in his eighth straight tournament.

The field tested the course in yesterday’s official practice round with Lascuña and a select number of pros gaining another chance to play it in today’s pro-am tournament where they will be paired with guests and officials.

Beefing up the cast are last week’s runner-up Keanu Jahns, Nilo Salahog, reigning Philippine Open champion Clyde Mondilla, Pueblo de Oro titlist Reymon Jaraula, Ira Alido, Paul Echavez, Art Arbole, Ramil Bisera, Elmer Salvador, Jhonnel Ababa, Elmer Saban and Ferdie Aunzo.