30th Coral Invitational set to tee off at Country Club

CEBU, Philippines - The 30th Coral Invitational tees off today at the par-72 Cebu Country Club with the participants hoping for fine weather for the next four days.

After intermittent rains the past week, the weather has become the biggest threat to the tournament, which is the club's signature member-guest event.

There are around 200 teams set to participate in the four-day event where teams are required to play two rounds using the Modified Stableford Scoring System.

The scoring format awards six points for a net double-eagle, five for an ace, four for eagle, three for birdie, two for par, and one for bogey.

Participants will be allowed to use their handicaps, but a certain cap will be applied for the high handicappers. 

There will also be a category for the seniors division aside from the regular event.

The Coral In-vitational is the first of many member-guest tournaments hosted by various golf clubs around the country for the year.

Jovi Neri, who is seeking a third straight title alongside Andre Borromeo for the lowest gross plum, said that a Suzuki Swift, a house and lot from Prohomes, golf carts, and a golf set are the hole-in-one prizes.

Neri and Borromeo have won the lowest gross title in 2009 and 2010.

The Coral brings to Cebu several of the top golfers from around the country, who will be pairing off with their friends and family.

Among those, who are due here for the event is Ricardo 'Richie' Garcia, chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), who will be the playing partner of Ramontito Garcia, a many-time club champion of CCC.

The tournament format requires that teams playing today would play their second round on Friday while those playing tomorrow would play their second round on Saturday.

A Calcutta is set tomorrow night. This is one of the highlights of the Coral Invitational that has made the event unique and has given it character. (FREEMAN)