Pucay rules Senior tour tourney
Mars Pucay delivered a late charge at Canlubang Golf and Country Club to outduel Rico Depilo and Sonny Almazan, ruling the Pilipinas Senior Pro Golf Tour Organization’s (PSPGTO) Leaders and Legends tournament last week in Laguna.
The former national amateur champion leaned on his deep familiarity with the North Course—where he sharpened much of his early game—to pull off a steady 69 in the pro division for golfers aged 50 to 59. After going out with a two-birdie, one-bogey front nine, Pucay caught fire coming home, drilling birdies on Nos. 11, 12 and 14. A slip on the 15th barely mattered as he closed with clutch pars to finish a 35-34 round.
Almazan turned in a bogey-free 70 to tie Depilo, who briefly held the lead after a frontside 34 but faltered with a birdie-bogey exchange on the back nine. They shared second place. Jhonny Espares and Arnold Villacencio followed with identical 71s, while Leo Serdenia carded a 72 in Division I of the tournament presented by Exceed Supernova Financials Group, headed by Ronald Agoncillo.
Hallow Ridge next
The tour resumes on Dec. 8 at Hallow Ridge in San Pedro, Laguna, as the PSPGTO continues to give former standouts a competitive arena after their regular-tour years. The event also brought together notable names from past eras—Robert Pactolerin, Dan Cruz, Mario Manubay, Ernie Rellon and Wendy Superal—highlighting the senior circuit’s role in preserving Philippine golf’s lineage.
In Division II (ages 60–69), Nards Estrera shot a 74 to nip Rey Janaya and Leonardo Sanchez, who both posted 75s. Ed Lactao and Oscar Colminas followed with 76s.
Dave Hernandez took Division III (70 and above) with a 77, beating Florencio Tiamzon via countback after a birdie on the final hole. Fabian del Rosario and Felix Fernando tied for third with 78s.
Almazan later shared the spotlight again in the pro-am, teaming with amateur Bryan Lim for a 60—one better than Lito Limbo and Randy Rogelio. Villacencio-Darrell Ruado and Estrera-Rudy dela Cruz shared third with 63s.
