As the country’s health situation improves, the Fil-Am Men’s Invitational is pushing through with the 72nd edition of the biggest annual golf tournament next month at the Baguio Country Club and Camp John Hay Golf Club courses with eased protocols, the organizers said Wednesday.
In a press conference held at the BCC’s newest museum, Fil-Am co-chairman Anthony de Leon explained that unlike last year, participants will no longer have to go through antigen tests except when they exhibit symptoms of the COVID-19 virus.
“Those players who will experience symptoms will have to be tested and the results must be disclosed. If they fail to declare those truthfully, it would mean automatic disqualification from the competition,” said De Leon, who is also the general manager of BCC.
“Furthermore, we will only accept those fully vaccinated, with booster shots,” he said, noting that there was zero case of the Coronavirus in the course of the Fil-Am in 2021.
CJHGC general manager and Fil-Am co-chair Jude Eustaquio said: “Our health and safety committee is instrumental in crafting a system that we will be following for the three-week event.”
For this year’s tournament, the anticipation is so hyped that 240 teams or 1,200 players are registered—already near the pre-pandemic level in 2019 when 256 teams played—with 107 teams on the wait list.
“We did not expect the number on the wait list to swell that much. It seems they are just excited and happy to have the Fil-Am back to normal order,” Eustaquio said.
The seniors’ competition will be from November 26 to December 1, while the regulars will see action from December 6 to 11.