IGOROT parbuster Mars Pucay’s time to shine has finally come as he will lead the country together with Antonio Lascuna in the $300,000 Sail Open, Asian Tour’s fourth regular tournament of the season, at the challenging Delhi Golf Club in New Delhi, India next week.
Pucay and Lascuna, who competed in the ICTSI Sherwood Hills Classic over the weekend, will join the chase for the $47,550 top prize.
Que and Murakami are reportedly skipping the Sail in observance of Holy Week on the same dates of the tournament.
Pucay is coming off from a good year after a respectable third place finish in last year’s Pertamina Indonesia President Invitational and equaled his fourth finish in the Worldwide Selangor Masters and Macau Open.
“I have been working on my short game, particularly on putting because it is making a big difference during my games,” said the half-Ibaloi, half-Ifugao parbuster who is now based in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.
Also in the field are Philippine bets Jay Bayron, Ferdinand Aunzo, Marvin Dumandan who all got through the current tour after they finished well within the top 40 of Asian Tour’s qualifying school topped by Murakami.
Out to block the Filipinos’ charge is Chapchai Nirat, the big-hitting Thai star who will defend his crown.
“It will be a tough field but I think medyo maganda yung chance natin because of the tournaments that we joined prior to the Asian tour,” added Pucay.
Last year, the 26-year-old stormed to an 11-stroke victory en route to a staggering 32-under-par 256 winning aggregate at the Classic Golf Resort, also in India, the lowest winning score on any international Tour.
India’s top stars Jyoti Randhawa, Gaganjeet Bhullar, winner of the season-opening Asian Tour International, Shiv Kapur, rookie of the year in 2005, reigning Hero Honda Indian Open champion C. Muniyappa and S.S.P. Chowrasia will carry the local campaign. (Roderick Osis)