MERCEDESTROPHY UP AT STA. ELENA

MORE than 200 players are in harness for another faceoff in the MercedesTrophy Golf Invitational on Monday with no less than berths both in the Asian and world finals up for grabs at the Santa Elena Golf and Country Club in Laguna.

The huge field, featuring Mercedes-Benz owners and golf enthusiasts, will play over the posh 27-hole layout with the winners in three men’s divisions and their respective runners-up along with the ladies champion to represent the Philippines in the MercedesTrophy Asian Finals set in Brisbane via Philippine Airlines.

The best Filipino placer in the event, presented by Auto Nation Group Inc., exclusive distributor of Mercedes-Benz in the country and backed by Platinum sponsors Makati Shangri-La Hotel, Philippine Airlines, PLDT, Paramount Life and General Insurance, Shell Philippines and TW Steel, will then head to the world finals set in Germany in October.

The 14th staging of the annual event, backed by Boysen, the BusinessMirror, Remy Martin, Security Bank and Boss, and held to raise funds for the Cardinal Medical Charities Foundation Inc., a nongovernment organization that grants medical care and financial subsidy to disadvantaged patients, was launched in elaborate rites during the MercedesTrophy Sponsors and Champions Night on March 1 at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel.

Besides the rare chance to mix it up with other regional winners, participants in the Asian Finals will also be treated to an experiential drive showcasing the world-class performance and dynamic handling of M-Benz vehicles.