PRESS RELEASE
The country’s top and rising junior golfers take center stage next week as they slug it out in the first MVPSF Visayas Regional Match Play Championship set April 4-8 at the Cebu Country Club.
The organizing National Golf Association of the Philippines is putting up the event in recognition of the vast pool of talents in the region, particularly in the junior side as part of its continuing effort to promote the sport and at the same time discover, train and develop future members of the national pool and teams.
Still, focus will be on the veteran campaigners, including Rupert Zaragosa, Gab Manotoc, Jolo Magcalayo,Jovi Neri and Mark Sarmiento, who banner the 34 players entered in the men’s side of the tournament sponsored by the MVP Sports Foundation, Smart, PLDT, Metro Pacific Invesments Corp. and the Philippine Sports Commission.
Reigning national champion Harmie Constantino, meanwhile, headlines the ladies side of the event held as part of the PLDT Group National Amateur Golf Tour that also drew the likes of Jona Magcalayo, Junia Gabasa, Grace Quintanilla, Kristine Torralba, Renafe Arnado, Wilma Fantonial and Divina Lapasaran.
Also in the fold are Cebuana Lois Kaye ‘LK’ Go, Mirasol Panong, Riko Nagai and Mariestela Borres.
The first two days will serve as the qualifying round with the top 32 players in the men’s division and top 16 in the distaff side after the 36-hole stroke play will advance to the knockout phase starting April 6.
The top eight players in both classes will then brace for a grueling stint in the quarters and the semis, set on April 7, with the winners disputing the crowns on April 8, both 36-hole duels.
List up is ongoing with fee pegged at P3,000 for local players, P4,000 for foreign bets and P1,500 for CCC members. For details, call the NGAP at (02) 5179778 or 7065926.
Also entered in the men’s section are Jay Anderson, Concordo Cañete Jr., Miguel Guerrero, Ariel Mangana, Rolando Pila, Airon Sorino, Jon Alvarez, Ferdinand Chua, Mark Dy, Bayani Garcia, Miguel Martinez, Nino Bascon, Thomas Ngo, Kiyofumi Takahashi, Andre Borromeo, Tyler Po, Harvey Sytiongsa;
Marco Mendoza, Armand Guangko, Jufil Sato, Jaylord Abadilla, Nelson Yuvallos, Jojo Tiongko, Chepe Dulay, Gilbert Gamolo, Daniel Yap and Jefferson Rivera.
The event also serves as tune up for the Philippine Junior Amateur Open Golf Championship (Stroke Play) slated April 14-17 at Sherwood Hills Golf Club in Cavite where Zaragosa is the defending champion.
The NGAP will then stage the Philippine Amateuer Open Match Play Golf Championship on April 25-29 at the Orchard Golf and Country Club in Dasmariñas, Cavite.
