Corpus out to apply lessons as one of favorites at Eagle Ridge
Carl Corpus, after proving he belongs, has waited two weeks for another shot at being called a champion.
“I’m really excited to have another opportunity to showcase all the hard work I’ve put in,” said the PGT rookie Corpus, who now stands as one of the players to watch in the ICTSI Eagle Ridge Championship that tees off on Monday at the Faldo layout in Gen. Trias in Cavite.
Corpus finished second to the seasoned Angelo Que at Pradera Verde in Lubao, Pampanga two weeks ago, the six-shot deficit not important to him as he said that he learned a lot playing with the three-time Asian Tour winner.
“Every time you get to play with someone like him, seeing how he navigates his round, is a blessing, a learning experience,” Corpus had said, referring to the final two days at Pradera where he saw the 46-year-old Que at his finest.
Incidentally, this week is also a chance for Que to further validate his status as one of the elite players on the local tour. Despite not practicing the way he used to because of “daddy duties,” Que remains driven for success as ever.
“Every win is a chance for me to add to my legacy,” he had told the Inquirer after the win in Pampanga. “Every time I play, I want to give myself the best chance to win.”
Another young gun in Q School medal winner Jung Jae-hyun of South Korea is also a threat after finishing a fighting third at Pradera.
“I just need to make some putts this week,” Jung said as he rued his struggles on the greens in the first leg. “I am feeling pretty confident with how I am playing lately.”
Reigning Order of Merit champion Antonio Lascuña, meanwhile, is ready for his first tournament back in top shape. After battling a severe case of gout on his left elbow, the 54-year-old is ready to win again.
“It’s all about knowing how to play the course, staying composed,” Lascuña told the Inquirer in Filipino after a practice round at Manila Southwoods on Saturday. “You can have all the talent in the world, but winning takes a different kind of mental strength.”
