The men of the Philippine Golf Tour test their mettle in team play, hoping to draw the best from their amateur partners in the Delimondo National Pro-Am firing off May 9 at Splendido Taal Golf Club in Laurel, Batangas.
Jobim Carlos, hobbled by injury the last six weeks, won’t be around to defend the title he won with DJ Padilla last year to take a much-needed rest, but 104 teams are all geared up for three days of battle in alternate shot format at the challenging wind-raked, hazard-laden layout.
Tonton Asistio and Jude Eustaquio, for one, are going all out to reclaim the crown they snared in 2017 via sudden death over Jelbert Gamolo and Jolo Magcalayo but the rest have also toughened up in time for the event sponsored by Delimondo, the premier corned beef, and organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. in recognition of the amateurs’ role in boosting Phl golf and at the same time to provide them the exposure they need as they hone up for the pros.
A total of P2.7 million will be up for grabs in the 54-hole championship with only the top 40 teams after 36 holes of stroke play disputing the top purse of P500,000. For details, call Jocelyn Duque at 0918-9515308 or at [email protected].
The field features a mix of long-time partners and new team-ups with last year’s fourth placers Richard Abaring renewing his ties with Juan Alba, so do Jerson Balasabas and Ernesto Lim, Zanieboy Gialon and Ian Dagatan, Richard Sinfuego and Lorna Tabuena, Elmer Salvador and Oliver Gan, Ferdie Aunzo and George Punasen, and Artemio Murakami and Takuya Kawamura.
But some top pros are coming into the event hopeful of a strong finish with new amateur partners, including Jhonnel Ababa with Bobby Iñigo, Tony Lascuña with Moulay Rhounimi, Jay Bayron with Mon Salazar, Marvin Dumandan with Dan Cruz, Jet Mathay with Ryan Monsalve, Joenard Rates with Ian Maceda, and Dutch Guido Van der Valk with Kim Wan Soo.
The National Pro-Am serves as the second leg of the PGT’s milestone 10th season after The Country Club Invitational two weeks ago with action heating up next month with the four-leg Visayas swing of the nationwide circuit put up by ICTSI.
Kicking off the busy stretch of the circuit is the ICTSI Club Filipino de Cebu Invitational on June 5-8 to be followed by the Bacolod Golf Challenge on June 12-15 and the Negros Occidental Classic on June 19-22 before winding up in Iloilo on June 26-29.
After the Riviera Classic on Aug. 7-10, the tour goes south for another four-stage Mindanao swing starting with the Pueblo de Oro Championship on Sept. 11-14. The Del Monte Championship will be held next on Sept. 18-21 before the Rancho Palos Verdes and Apo host the next two stops on Sept. 25-28 and Oct. 2-5, respectively. The circuit ends up with the traditional Luisita Invitational on Nov. 6-9.