North vs South at Sta. Elena

Ranged against a team boasting of some of the country’s top guns, Team North brims with confidence heading to its sixth faceoff with its South counterpart next week, wary but upbeat of its chances for a repeat in The Duel – North vs South unfolding Nov. 13 at Sta. Elena Golf Club.

The Northerners rode on a big start in team play in the first two days of last year’s edition of the country’s version of the Ryder

Cup then held sway in the singles to pound out a three-point win, pulling the team on track for a crack at levelling up their series at three wins apiece.

“I’m confident about our chances this year,” said North coach Cookie La’O, who hopes to draw the best again from his firedup crew which upstaged its fancied rivals at John Hay last year, led by veterans Jobim Carlos, Justin Quiban, James Ryan Lam, Michael Bibat, Mars Pucay, Joenard Rates and Gerald Rosales, rising stars Ira Alido and Keanu Jahns along wit Jun Bernis, Fidel Concepcion and Eric Gallardo.

Team South is itching to reassert its mastery over the North side, which it dominated in the third and fourth editions of the event put up by ICTSI and organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. in 2012 as a side event to the then fledgling local circuit and now a biennial affair among the top players in the Philippine Golf Order of Merit ranking after each season.

Like La’O, South coach Charles Hong believes his side has the tools to get back at North and reclaim the crown with Clyde Mondilla, Tony Lascuña and Jhonnel Ababa to anchor their title drive along with Jerson Balasabas, Jay Bayron, Elmer Salvador, Albin Engino, Pueblo de Oro leg champion Reymon Jaraula, Zanieboy Gialon, Arnold Villacencio, Nilo Salahog and Rene Menor.