One hundred seven teams tee off in shotgun start in two batches today (Thursday), each seeking to come out strong for the momentum needed in such kind of a duel in the Delimondo National Pro-Am at Splendido Taal Golf Club in Laurel, Batangas.
Tonton Asistio and Judson Eustaquio are among those kicking off their drive at 6:30 a.m. on No. 9 with the long-time buddies out to reclaim the crown they won in the inaugural staging of the event at Mt. Malarayat in 2017 but lost to absentees Jobim Carlos and DJ Padilla at Splendido last year.
Reigning Phl Open champion Clyde Mondilla and regular partner Jeric Hechanova are also skipping this year’s event due to the former’s bum knee but the rest of the top players on the Philippine Golf Tour are in the fold plus a mix of foreign aces and lady pros out to steal the spotlight from the fancied bets.
A stellar roster of amateurs is also eager to prove their worth in the 54-hole championship held under the alternate shot format with the pro winner to take home P500,000 out of the P2.7 million total pot staked in the event sponsored by Delimondo. The winning amateur will receive gifts and merchandises.
“It’s good that we have this kind of competition which also showcases the pros’ skills in team play and at the same time help prepare the amateurs gearing up for the pro ranks,” said multi-titled Tony Lascuña.
The former three-time PGT Order of Merit winner is actually in a slump but is confident of contending this week in partnership with Moulay Rhounimi and hopefully snap the spell in the event put up by ICTSI and organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc.
Lascuña and Rhounimi will start on No. 1 with a curious mix of teams following suit, including Spain’s Marcos Pastor, who actually topped the PGT Q-School at Splendio last February, who will be with top lady amateur Nicole Abelar, PGA Asia leg winner James Ryan Lam with Marianne Bustos, veteran Jay Bayron with Mon Salazar, and multi PGT Asia winner Jhonnel Ababa with Vince Floro;
Elmer Salvador with Oliver Gan, PGT titlist Dutch Guido Van der Valk with Kim Wan Soo, rookie pro Rupert Zaragosa with Jonas Magcalayo, Marvin Dumandan with Dan Cruz, and Rey Pagunsan with top amateur Aidric Chan.
Ladies PGT campaigners Chihirio Ikeda, Daniella Uy, Marvi Monsalve and Gretchen Villacencio also aim to steal the spotlight with partners Josh Jorge, Lanz Uy, Laia Barro and Roger Dale, respectively, while lady top amateurs Bernice Olivarez-Ilas, Sunshine Zhang and Annyka Cayabyab try to help anchor their bids of their pro teammates in Venezuelan Rafael Parra, Dino Villanueva, Nico Evangelista, respectively.
Meanwhile, the other batch launches their bid at 12:30 p.m., including Phl Masters champion Jerson Balasabas with Marlowe Cortez, Omar Dungca with Carl Corpus, Zanieboy Gialon with Ian Dagatan, Joenard Rates with Ian Maceda, and Michael Bibat with Louie Aguinaldo.
