By MARK REY MONTEJO
Twenty-five top Filipino golfers and other Asian hotshots take the spotlight in the revived Philippine President’s Trophy starting next month at the fabled Wack Wack Golf and Country Club in Mandaluyong City.
With a prize fund of $500,000 (P29,647,250), organizers see brilliant shotmaking, drama and intense race for the ultimate prize in the 72-hole competition that runs from Feb. 5 to 8.
A total of 144 players across the continent have confirmed participation in the tournament sanctioned by the Asian Tour with support from the National Golf Association of the Philippines (NGAP) and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).
“It’s been busy in the past months with all the big tournaments here and there. We offer this tournament to the president,” said PSC chairman Pato Gregorio.
“This is the right sports tourism initiative. We support golf because I believe we can excel in this sport,” added Gregorio, who also served as head of the National Sports Tourism Inter-Agency Committee.
Also entered are six Filipino players, four invites by NGAP and Asian Tour and 97 Asian Tour members.
Miguel Tabuena is anticipated to take part in the tournament, which is the newest part of the Asian Tour calendar, on Philippine soil.
Last October, Tabuena reigned supreme in the International Series Philippines at the Sta. Elena Golf Club in Laguna that saw him pocket the winner’s purse of $360,000 (P21.3 million)
“We were surprised we were considered. We were out of the picture for several years. I assure you it will be an attraction at Wack Wack,” said Wack Wack president Ben Abalos. “Malaking bagay ito. We were placed again on the golfing map. Somehow we could help with tourism.”
