The pros are coming

I have lost count of the number of years that have passed since the last time a professional golf tournament was held in Cebu. I have covered golf tournaments in many parts of the country, but the most special are always those events that are held at home in Cebu.

Maybe I am a typical Cebuano, proud of being one and always finding Cebu as better than any other place, but it was kind of sad that while professional tournaments are held regularly in Davao and Bukidnon, we could hardly have one here.

We can't even host the PAL Interclub, which is hailed as the national amateur golf club championships of the country.

Next week, the Philippine Golf Tour is coming to town. This means that the Cebu golf community will once again get a chance to watch the pros up close and sometimes feel good to see that these people, who play the game for a living, sometimes also commit mistakes that we duffers make.

What makes this Cebu leg more special is the fact that a Cebuano company, Aboitiz Equity Ventures, is the main backer of the event at the Cebu Country Club.

There is even a pro-am that would give a team of three amateurs a chance to be on the same flight as the professionals hoping to learn from them or just simply enjoy the company of a good player, who make shots that we can only dream of.

The other week, I played a round of golf with Ricardo 'RJ' Liwanag, a professional from the Asian Seniors Tour, at the Alta Vista Golf and Country Club and learned one very important lesson - no matter what happens, stay focused.

Marvin Dumandan, one of the pros, who were here yesterday for the press conference of next week's tournament, said it right that to prepare for an event, they need to be both physically and mentally fit.

If you have been watching a lot of golf, you have probably seen pros miss very short putts or flub a shot that you think you could have nailed into the hole if not let the ball land a few inches away for a tap in.

If you don't play the game, it is not as stupid as you think. You don't just hit a ball, look for it and then hit it again. You also have to do a lot of thinking and analyzing, but sometimes it does work to your advantage if you don't feel any pressure and just hit the ball.

See you next week at Cebu Country Club.

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Congratulations to the organizers of the 1st St. Ignatius Day Run, which started and finished at the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu campus last Saturday.

It was also great to see many of my friends, who took part in the event along with their children.

I'm sure there would be another one next year.

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MILESTONES: Belated birthday greetings to my aunt, Ilay Rada, who celebrated her reaching the golden milestone last Monday at Vistamar Beach Resort and Country Club surrounded by her family and friends.

Almost every one was there including their mother, Lola Abing, and her siblings including those who came from Canada and Ozamiz City.

Belated greetings also go to Stanley Yap, who turned a year older yesterday.

Today's greetings go to sports editor Manny Villaruel, who has become a well-rounded individual as the years have passed since he first came to work as a reporter as a gangling 17-year-old back in 1997.

More power to all of you! - THE FREEMAN