RP Open Notebook: Salvador targets Asian Tour
12/19/2009 | 05:10 PM
Lipa City — Whatever the outcome of the final round of the 93rd Philippine Open at the vast Mt. Makulot and Mt. Lobo courses of Mount Malarayat Golf and Country Club, three-day leader Elmer Salvador is already a winner, in terms of future activities in 2010.
With two triumphs in the ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour and P700,000 in earnings, Salvador is a strong candidate for the golfer of the year plum. If he captures it, he would certainly be a prime contender, too, for a 10-tournament exempt card in the Asian Tour next season.
“I am really gunning for that. It will help me boost my confidence in the cash-rich Asian Tour," said Salvador, who arrived two and a half hours ahead of his 10:50 am tee time in the flight with Guido Van der Valk of the Netherlands and Angelo Que.
Salvador explained that Que, one of the directors of the players’ union in the Asian Tour, will help him in securing the necessary documents needed to get him in.
Que, the reigning RP Open champ but is trailing Salvador and Guido entering the last round, said Salvador is playing so well these days that his time to participate in the Asian Tour is due now.
“I believe that he’ll compete at the pro-level in the Asian Tour. He’s been one of the hottest golfers among us right now. I feel happy for the guy," Que said.
In fact, Que is very proud of his good friend. “Elmer is a great talent. What he needs is an opportunity to play in the big league. It will help, too, if sponsors come and provide financial assistance."
***
Juvic Pagunsan’s disqualification in the second round was not much given attention but it was something that was abuzz around the clubhouse of Mount Malarayat.
The DQ of Pagunsan happened because he arrived more than five minutes late of his tee time, a no-no in professional events, said tournament director Mike Carr.
“For whatever reason one golfer comes in late, it is not the problem of the organizer. Every player has a responsibility of making sure to turn up on time," he said.
Carr, in fact, said that Pagunsan almost got disqualified in the first round as he barely made the tee off.
It was something that the Asian Tour veteran rarely does.
“If he has problems, he should not bring it into the event. He committed to play in the RP Open then that should have his focus for the week," Carr explained.
There are many speculations of Pagunsan’s sudden coldness for the game and there is one glaring: a competitor said that he has an ongoing feud with father Juanito, who got in the weekend rounds.
GMANews.TV tried its best to contact Pagunsan but he was unavailable for comment. – Adrian Flores, GMANews.TV
With two triumphs in the ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour and P700,000 in earnings, Salvador is a strong candidate for the golfer of the year plum. If he captures it, he would certainly be a prime contender, too, for a 10-tournament exempt card in the Asian Tour next season.
Salvador
Salvador explained that Que, one of the directors of the players’ union in the Asian Tour, will help him in securing the necessary documents needed to get him in.
Que, the reigning RP Open champ but is trailing Salvador and Guido entering the last round, said Salvador is playing so well these days that his time to participate in the Asian Tour is due now.
“I believe that he’ll compete at the pro-level in the Asian Tour. He’s been one of the hottest golfers among us right now. I feel happy for the guy," Que said.
In fact, Que is very proud of his good friend. “Elmer is a great talent. What he needs is an opportunity to play in the big league. It will help, too, if sponsors come and provide financial assistance."
***
Juvic Pagunsan’s disqualification in the second round was not much given attention but it was something that was abuzz around the clubhouse of Mount Malarayat.
The DQ of Pagunsan happened because he arrived more than five minutes late of his tee time, a no-no in professional events, said tournament director Mike Carr.
Pagunsan
Carr, in fact, said that Pagunsan almost got disqualified in the first round as he barely made the tee off.
It was something that the Asian Tour veteran rarely does.
“If he has problems, he should not bring it into the event. He committed to play in the RP Open then that should have his focus for the week," Carr explained.
There are many speculations of Pagunsan’s sudden coldness for the game and there is one glaring: a competitor said that he has an ongoing feud with father Juanito, who got in the weekend rounds.
GMANews.TV tried its best to contact Pagunsan but he was unavailable for comment. – Adrian Flores, GMANews.TV
