Fil-Am golfer eyes future Olympics
Fil- Am pro golfer Demi Runas said the other day it would make her Filipino parents happy if she could someday represent the Philippines in the Olympics but for the moment, her advice to Rio qualifier Miguel Tabuena is to enjoy the experience of competing for the country.
Two Filipinos made the world top 60 cut to qualify for Rio, No. 38 Tabuena and No. 59 Angelo Que. But only Tabuena will travel to the Olympics as Que has relinquished his spot for fear of contracting the Zika virus. In the women’s event, no Filipina made the world top 60 cut but Dottie Ardina, ranked world No. 511, could’ve squeezed in as a replacement option for 27 qualifiers. Ardina was the second replacement for 15 qualifiers so the probability of claiming a ticket to Rio via the backdoor was relatively high. However, like Que, Ardina said she would decline the opportunity to compete in Rio if invited.
Golf will return to the Olympics after a 112-year absence and will be played on a new course designed by Gil Hanse and Amy Alcott at the Reserva de Marapendi in the Barra da Tijuca zone. The men’s competition is scheduled on Aug. 11-14 while the women will play on Aug. 17-20. Based on the world top 60 rankings for men and women, 40 countries will be represented in Rio without taking into account withdrawals. The final cast of competitors will be released on July 18.
Runas, 24, is the world’s highestranked golfer with Filipina roots at No. 387. Ardina is No. 511, Mia Piccio No. 636, Cyna Rodriguez No. 1041 and Jennifer Rosales No. 1058. If Runas only had dual citizenship, she would’ve been a higher replacement option than Ardina to play in Rio as a Filipina.
Runas’ father Arnulfo, 64, is from La Union and migrated to Los Angeles in 1989. Her mother Lydia, 64, is from Imus, Cavite, and migrated to New Jersey in 1977. Runas has visited the Philippines thrice, most recently for three weeks during the Christmas holidays in 2013.
“During my last visit, I was able to play at Eagle Ridge Country Club and the Country Club in Laguna,” she said in an email. “I met coach Bong (Lopez) of the Philippine national team when I was a junior golfer. He graciously offered to take me out to play with the team if I ever visit the Philippines. I was finally able to take him up on his offer when I visited a few years ago. After graduating from the University of California at Davis in 2013, I toyed with the idea of playing in Asia for the experience but my ultimate goal has always been to play on the LPGA tour. I didn’t have any sponsors to help me when I started out as a pro so my family and I had to focus the funds on working towards getting LPGA status. I guess it paid off because in 2015, I earned my tour card. Although my focus right now is on the LPGA tour, I think it would be an amazing experience to play an event in the Philippines. I am an American citizen by birth but my Filipino heritage is a big part of who I am. I think it would make my parents happy to see me represent the Philippines in the Olympics.”
Runas said representing the country in an event like the Olympics is an opportunity to embrace. “My coach in college, Anne Walker, used to tell us to play for the name on the front of your jersey, not the one on the back – metaphorically, of course, since golfers don’t wear jerseys,” she said. “Whenever I was having a bad day, I used to tell myself, ‘This is for the team.’ It was a great reminder that I was part of something bigger than just me. I think it’s amazing that all of the participants have the opportunity to represent and play for their country.”
Runas said she has met several Filipina golfers in the course of her career. “I met Jennifer during my rookie year on the LPGA in 2015,” she said. “It was a very cool experience for me because I remember watching her as a kid. I’ve known Cyna, Dottie and Mia since we were junior golfers. We grew up playing the same events during summers and grew to be pretty close over the years. Mia and I actually talk fairly regularly.”
Runas said she was raised in a Filipino environment. “Hard work and family orientation are some values that I picked up from my parents,” she said. “My mom is the hardest working person I know and she has always gone above and beyond to support me. I am also very close with my siblings (Am, 36; Alvin, 34; Lairessa, 32, Eugene, 21). My older siblings were born and raised in Iligan. They were petitioned and moved to the US when I was nine. My dad introduced me to golf when I was four. Even though my siblings and I didn’t all grow up together, we are still very much true brothers and sisters. I know they will always be there for me and vice-versa.”
Since breaking into the LPGA tour last year, the 5-6 Runas has earned $52,640. Last month, she was tied for 32nd with rounds of 69-68-69 for a seven-under-par 206 at the Walmart Arkansas Championships in Arkansas and tied for 25th with rounds of 6972-69-69 for a five-under-par 279 at the Meijer Classic in Michigan.