Big weekend for RP golf

Not even my lousy experience in Monday’s barangay elections could dampen my spirits.  It was the first time it happened to me in the many elections that I have participated in since the 1988 local polls that I had to wait with many others not because there were many voters, but because the Board of Election Tellers were not complete.

I went to my polling precinct in Minglanilla at noontime knowing that it usually is the best time to vote, but there was only one person inside the precinct while I saw other voters already looking very irritated.

I later learned that the woman inside the classroom was the only one left behind as her companions went out.  One reportedly went to the next barangay to vote.

Anyway, I did manage to exercise my right of suffrage as after several minutes of waiting the BET was again complete, but too bad for others whose patience ran out and left.

Although it was such a low down, last weekend’s good news from our Filipino pros could hardly make any bad election-related experience a reason to sulk.  Frankie Miñoza won in Japan while Juvic Pagunsan won in Indonesia.  I believe Philippines golf never had as great as weekend as that.

Frankie, a regular visitor of Cebu, won for the first time since 2001 when he edged Korean Lee Dong-hwa in their sudden death playoff for the ABC Championship in Hyogo prefecture.

The Filipino sank a birdie on the first playoff hole to bag the 24 million Japanese yen purse or approximately 210,000 US dollars. 

Frankie’s last win in the rich Japan Tour was six years ago in the Fujisankei Classic.  Last February, the native of Bukidnon, also won the Philippine Open for the second time in his career.

In the case of Juvic, who was last year’s rookie of the year in the Asian Tour, the triumph in the Pertamina Indonesia President Invitational held in Jakarta was his first for his career.

The purse was 55,000 US dollars and his final score was a whopping 19-under-par for 72 holes.

The win last weekend proved that Frankie remains to be the country’s foremost pro while Juvic is fast proving that he is the heir apparent to the throne.

The victory has propelled Juvic to number 33 in the order of merit from 80th and his total earnings are now $92,027.

It’s about time our pros give us a reason to celebrate Philippine golf in their level.  One thing that always makes me feel bad is the fact that after the success of our young guns in the junior golf level, it is very hard for them to move ahead.

The most obvious reason is that we don’t have a real local pro tour that they can look forward to.

There was in the past, but then the pros themselves cannot seem to agree as to how they would run their organization.

There is always hope if we don’t stop trying.  Maybe someday we’ll see a revival of the local pro tour and I look forward to that.

* * *

MILESTONES: A very happy birthday to Joselito ‘Jiji’ Gullas who turns a year older today.

The same goes to Leonardo ‘Jojo’ Roa, Jr.

Jiji and Jojo are both my compadres and I look up to them as big brothers.  I wish you both all the best always!