Southwoods, Del Monte banner tough field

Twenty golf clubs involving 144 players gear up for a battle royale when the 23rd Champion Infinity Luzvimin Golf Championship is fired off June 3 at the Rancho Palos Verdes Golf and Country Club in Davao City.

Manila Southwoods’ Masters, which re-claimed the crown with a runaway triumph in Cagayan de Oro last year, is back to defend the Diamond division plum but will have its hands full against a fired-up Del Monte Golf Club, Rancho Palos Verdes and Tagaytay Highlands Golf Club sides in the annual event which features the leading golfing ladies from the country’s top clubs.

For one, the host club is expected to lean on its local knowledge as it presses its title drive in the premier category for players with handicap of 2-7 while the Highlanders are raring to flaunt the form that netted them a string of titles in the WGAP Circuit and WGAP Cup.

The Del Monte ladies have also toughened up in time for the 54-hole tournament sponsored by Champion Infinity, Metro Pacific, Sen. Sonny Angara and OJ Calderon and organized by the Women’s Golf Association of the Philippines.

Manila Southwoods’ Legends, meanwhile, banners the field in the Emerald division (8-14) along with Sta. Elena Golf Club, Manila Golf Club, Villamor Golf Club 1, Forest Hills Golf Club 1, Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club, Valley Golf Club, Davao City (Matina), Bacolod Golf and Country Club and Pueblo de Oro Golf and Country Club 2.

Keen competition is also seen in the Ruby division (15-20) with Villamor Golf Club 2 and Camp Aguinaldo Golf Club leading the field that also includes Orchard Golf and Country Club, Apo Golf and Country Club, Philippine Navy Golf Club, Alabang Golf and Country Club and Forest Hills Golf Club 2.

The hosts, meanwhile, are also tipped to contend for the Pearl division crown (21+) with the challenge to come from Victorias Golf and Country Club and Baguio Country Club.

Meanwhile, WGAP and host Palos Verdes are guaranteeing a smooth and successful staging of the threeday event through the efforts of WGAP president Anna Lacson Haurie, cochair/tour chair Maisa Catindig, tour co-chair Evelyn Alcantara, Cora Sy (finance), PRO Marissa Vergara (F&B awarding and welcome cocktails), Detsy Laurel (secretariat/program), handicap chair Connie Mamaril, Gie Bote (prizes and trophies/logistics and program), Cora Suntay (rules), Rancho Palos Verdes president Vicente Santos and RPV gen. manager Vince Lopez.