BAGUIO CITY – A third of the supposed participants of the Fil-Am Golf Invitational Tournament start their quest tomorrow, November 26, as the 67 year old sports spectacle kicked off officially today with the ceremonial tee both at Camp John Hay and Baguio Country Club courses.
Some 424 of the more than 1,200 players will be the first to hit the ball at the par 61 BCC and par 68 CJH courses in what is supposed to be the world’s biggest and oldest amateur golfing event which will also see the return of Baguio pride Kylie Verzosa, the newly crowned Miss International.
Verzosa, whose family owns a hotel and restaurant here, joined members of the executive committee in the ceremonial tees at both golf clubs>
Players tomorrow will come from the Seniors A and B and Regular G and H of both Fil and Am divisions.
“The course is in good condition,” said BCC spokesperson Andrew Pinero.
“We’re very excited as we expect a very good competition this year,” added Pinero as players started checking in at both the courses starting Monday this week to check on the courses including seniors Fil Championship defending champion San Miguel – Northern Cement led by former top pro Eddie Bagtas.
Bagtas is confident to lead his San Miguel squad anew to the title over local squad Pugo Adventure which they beat in an exciting finale last year and won only through countback.
Bagtas vowed that his San Miguel team this time is much stronger with Benjie Sumulong, Jingky Tuason, Bong Sison, Chito Laureta and former John Hay golf manager Jerich Hechanova.
“Mas malakas ngayon ang team namin,” vowed Bagtas after one of the practice rounds at the BCC course recently.
“(I) Like to see them play (in a) very competitive and challenging tournament and hope that my team will regain the supremacy this year,” said Pugo team captain Peter Go over Facebook.
Pugo will have many time seniors Group A individual champion Fred Puckett leading the charge with younger brother Jack, who replaced another brother Douglas in the team. The team also have mainstays Ed Montenegro, Goodie Ignacio and retired Korean architect Park Jun Wong.
The two teams start their bids on Sunday at the longer CJH course, take a break on Tuesday, resume on Wednesday at the BCC course until Thursday.
“Lalaban ang mga local players natin,” added Go, whose Pugo team won in 2014.
By Dexter A. See
