THE annual Aboitiz Invitational, which for seven consecutive years has served as the kick-off leg of the Philippine Golf Tour Asia and placed Philippine golf on the international stage, lands this year on the challenging fairways of Manila Southwoods Golf and Country Club in Carmona, Cavite on August 15 to 18.
More than a hundred golfers, including an interesting mix of leading Asian players and local top guns and rising stars will challenge each other for the coveted $100,000-priced title. Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc. stages the sporting event in collaboration with Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc.
“We are looking forward to working with PGTI again, with whom we share a strong relationship with. Aboitiz is honored to stage this sporting event that continues to bring out the best in our athletes,” said AEV President and CEO Erramon I. Aboitiz.
Aboitiz opened the tournament back in 2010.
Last year, Filipino golf champ Jay Bayron celebrated a thrilling victory over Malaysian golfer Gavin Green at Wack-Wack Golf and Country Club in Mandaluyong City.
Bayron is gunning for a third Aboitiz crown as the veteran Davaoeno shotmaker also ruled the kickoff leg of what has become a revered championship in 2011 at the Cebu Country Club. Elmer Salvador, also from Davao, topped the next two editions, also in Cebu, before another Davaoeño and current local Order of Merit leader Tony Lascuña reigned at Riviera in 2014.
In one of his rare local appearances, the Japan PGA Tour-based Juvic Pagunsan dominated the elite international field at Southwoods in 2015.
PGTI chairman and president Ricky Razon, the man behind this regional circuit, has expressed enthusiasm over PGTA’s role in helping produce more local players to the world stage.
“The PGTA should serve as a great platform for budding golfers to hone their talent and skills and advance their careers. We are happy to do our part in helping these players,” said Razon.
Meanwhile, PGTI is putting up the PGTA Qualifying School on Aug. 9-12 at the Luisita Golf and Country Club in Tarlac, with the top 80 after 36 holes advancing to the final two rounds, and the top 60 (plus ties) gaining cards for the new PGTA.
Entry fee is pegged at $400.
Luisita will stage the second leg of the PGTA on Sept. 6-9 for the Central Azucarera de Tarlac Open before action shifts to Riviera for the ICTSI Riviera Championship on Sept. 13-16.
The fabled Wack Wack East will be the PGTA’s next stop on Nov. 15-18 for the ICTSI Wack Wack Challenge on Nov. 15-18 while Splendido holds the next leg on Nov. 29-Dec. 2 before the season winds up on Dec. 6-9 at a venue still to be decided.
For details and updates, call PGTI at (049) 554-9600 or (632) 245-4101 or visit www.pgt.ph.