Forest Hills Golf and Country Club’s Palmer course hosted its first major tournament via the 2022 NGAP Forest Hills Open over the weekend and it passed the test with flying colors.
Ranged against some of the best junior, amateur and senior golfers, the par-72 design of Arnold Palmer proved it can be a championship layout with its own character and merits.
“One cannot take the Palmer lightly,” says General Manager Raymond Bunquin, adding: “The terrains are hilly, the fairways are rolling and the greens are uneven and demanding.”
In fact, from among the more than 100 participants in five divisions, it was only Edison Tabalin, a bubbly teener out of Davao, who managed to break par in the 36-hole collaboration between Forest Hills and the National Golf Association of the Philippines.
“Despite its challenging nature, though, our members and guests keep coming back to Palmer, each time trying to conquer and have a better score,“ said Bunquin, who is spearheading the preparation of Forest Hills’ 25th year this November.
Jacob Cajita took the crown in the Developmental Division with 145 (73-72). Kirby Lachica 155 (80-75) walked away with the Mid-Amateur 1 title.
The other division winners were Roy Nudalo 154 (76-78) in Mid-Amateur 2, Lee Jin Soo 153 (74-79 in (Senior and King Sumulong 162 (82-80) in Super Senior.