Wild finish seen as Solaire PH Open unwraps
THIS is one Solaire Philippine Open bracing for a classic ending on its Centennial staging.
With a best international cast ever assembled in years, a record prize fund and a dreaded course whose signature one’s title bid, the country’s premier championship unwraps today with a promise of nothing Rosa, Laguna.
There’s also the Centennial
- cluding six former champions, 30 mainstays of One Asia Tour, 45 other foreign players from Philippine Golf Tour Asia and the cream of the local pro crop will not only be battling for the top $108,000 purse out of the whopping $600,000 fund put up by Solaire Resort and Casino, but also for history, this being the 100th tournament of Asia’s oldest National Open at The Country Club course.
“There’s no better way to win a premier golf championship than here in the Phl Open where history awaits the winner,” said Tony Lascuña, chasing perhaps the only crown missing in his vast trophy collection.
Former champions Mardan Mamat (2012) of Singapore and Australian Marcus Both (2014) and last year’s winner Steve Lewton of event in the last decade along with local titlists Miguel Tabuena (2015), Angelo Que (2008) and - mer Asia’s No. 1 who scored a PH the last player to win the coveted crown twice in 2007.
“I’m not getting any younger. But I’m always ready for the Phl Open,” said the 58-year-old Miñoza,
stressing the younger ones will have an edge over the long, demanding course that measures up to 7,300 yards.
But with the winds not whip web forecast, a shootout looms among the best of the best in all four days although others note wind condition could change at any given day at the TCC.
- - ship form all year long, remains as tough as ever even without the gusts with its sheer length, bun native areas enough to bring out the best – or the worst – in every bidder in the blue-ribbon event - augural eight-stage PGT Asia and co-sanctioned by One Asia.
There’s also the TCC’s last - dulating putting surface with pin placements expected to be placed on strategic spots in the final two rounds of the tournament sponsored by ICTSI, Meralco, PLDT, Smart, Bulgari, Diamond Motor Corp., BDO, Central Azucarera de Tarlac, Amon Trading, Dynamic Sports
But all will aim for a strong start for the momentum and of championship with Lascuña drawing Singapore’s Choo Tze - on No. 10; Que facing Malaysian Nicholas Fung and Rattanon Wannasrichan, also of Thailand, Merit Clyde Mondilla and Japa
Lewton, who edged American Johannes Veerman in the playoff to snare the crown here last year, - mai and local young gun Justin Quiban in one of the featured No. 1, with Mamat, Miñoza and Thammanoon Sriroj of Thailand noon to be followed by another top group composed of Tabuena, Thai Prom Meesawat and Korean
Micah Shin, meanwhile, hopes the TCC Invitational crown two winner Tabuena by one as the lean Korean- American starts Asia winner Jhonnel Ababa and Thai Niron Sae Ueng.
contention are Americans John Michael O’Toole, Seungjae Maeng and Nicolas Paez, Thais Wisut Artjanawat, Pasavee Lertvilai and Angel Jimenez Jr., who father and Tour champion who also won seven titles in Asia, including a record four title feat in the Hong Kong Open.
The country’s top five amateurs, through the co-organizing National Golf Association of the Philippines, also get a taste of bigtime golf with Carl Corpus, Paolo Wong, Luis Castro, Jolo Magcalayo and recent PGT Q- School topnotcher Lloyd Go, all hoping to