Marvin Dumandan expects to get better after a hard loss in Davao as he steps up his drive for a Philippine Golf Tour crown that has eluded him the last 14 years in the ICTSI Mimosa Plus Championship, which unwraps Tuesday at the Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga.
He nearly clinched the elusive trophy in Davao last week, but a flubbed birdie-putt from short range on the 72nd hole cost him the South Pacific Classic title won by Justin Quiban in a four-hole playoff.
But the impact of the loss hardly shook Dumandan’s confidence as he looked forward to settling an unfinished business in this week’s P2 million championship at the Mimosa Plus Golf Course.
“It’s a tough loss, but I learned my lessons. I just hope to continue to get better and be able to contend again,” said Dumandan.
But at Mimosa Plus, Dumandan could count on his power, along with the Tour’s other noted long hitters, although premium will also be on iron play and ball control, with the layout’s last line of defense likewise expected to challenge the steadiest putters in the fold.
Justin Quiban, meanwhile, won’t be around to go for a second straight championship to honor his previous commitment to play in the Asian Development Tour event in Indonesia.
Clyde Mondilla, who topped the Forest Hills and Del Monte stages, and Bacolod leg champion Ira Alido are anchoring the country’s campaign in the Asian Games in China.
The Mimosa Plus roster, however, remains as loaded as ever, with Rupert Zaragosa, Reymon Jaraula, Tony Lascuña, and Jhonnel Ababa all eyeing a second victory following their romps in Iloilo, Valley, Caliraya Springs, and Villamor, respectively.
