In-form Ababa eyes top TCC Invit’l finish

With two PGT Asia victories, Jhonnel Ababa is looking not just to contend but win the rich The Country Club Invitational when the P5 million event is fired off Feb. 14 at the TCC course in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

The former national amateur hotshot snapped a three-year title spell with an emphatic seven-stroke victory at ICTSI Eagle Ridge Invitational over Elmer Salvador then edged Aussie Andrew Campbell by two at ICTSI Pradera Verde Classic last month.

“I feel good. I’m so confident and my game is clicking – driving, iron, putting,” said Ababa, after sweeping the sixth and seventh legs of the inaugural PGT Asia and becoming the first player to score a “double” in the inaugural season of the region’s newest circuit sponsored by ICTSI.

Five players split the first five PGT Asia legs late last year with Miguel Tabuena ruling the Aboitiz Invitational at Southwoods, Rene Menor snaring the Splendido crown in a five-hole playoff with Thai Pasavee Lertvilai, Clyde Mondilla reigning at Riviera, Tony Lascuña topping the Wack Wack and Justin Quiban scoring a breakthrough at the Central Azucarera de Tarlac Open at Luisita.

But Ababa opened the new season with those twin wins, easily making him the marked player in the upcoming TCC Invitational put up by ICTSI president/chairman Ricky Razon in 2003 to honor the memory of his father and ICTSI founder Don Pocholo Razon, himself an avid golfer.