Dream team formed for PH golf, says Floro

Not since Jennifer Rosales, Dorothy Delasin and Ria Quiazon in 1998 has the country formed a golf team what many believe can end a 32-year-old gold medal drought in the Asian Games.

United States collegiate stars Lois Kay Go and Bianca Pagdanganan and Fil-Japanese phenom Yuka Saso have been tapped to see action in the 2018 Games to be hosted by Indonesia less than three weeks from now.

The team’s composition was made possible by sportsman Martin Lorenzo who has taken the helm of the National Golf Association of the Philippines (NGAP).

“It’s a dream team, no doubt,” said NGAP secretary-general Bones Floro .

Floro, grandson of the late Crispa sportsman-philanthropist Danny Floro, said they are leaving no stone unturned in their bid to match Ramon Brobio’s individual gold medal in the Seoul Asiad in 1986.

With the exception of Saso, the men’s and women’s squads were sent to Jakarta a few weeks ago to sample the Pondok Indah Golf Course, site of the four-day competition that starts on Aug. 23.

Off the blue tees, Go said the course measures 6,800 yards, about 500 yards longer than what they are used to in the United States.

The 19-year-old Boston College junior said the length should pose no problem for Saso and Pagdanganan, both long-hitters.

Saso is the reigning Philippines Ladies Open champion. She won the Victorian Junior Masters in Australia and the Thunderbird International Junior in the United States.

Go is best remembered for firing a final round 65 that won her the Women’s Porter Cup last year in the US.