Coffee, tea or tee with Jack Nicklaus?

The chance to represent your country, not to mention meeting a legendary golfer in Jack Nicklaus, is again just around the corner!

Registration for the annual Jack Nicklaus International Invitational is ongoing and a huge field is again expected.

There is actually more pressure on this year’s local champion because the Philippines is the defending champion, courtesy of the stellar showing of Teody Pascual and Joseph Tambunting in Columbus, Ohio in 2013.

The pre-qualifying tournament is scheduled on March 17 at the Sta. Elena Golf Club where 50 of the best teams will advance to the “Defend the Championship” finals.

Aside from the honor and privilege of playing for our flag, the winning team will also get exclusive entry to the PGA memorial tournament.

Other prizes at stake include round-trip airfare to Columbus, deluxe accommodation for five nights, luxurious hospitality with welcome banquet, champions dinner, and awards ceremony. Each player will also have four rounds of golf, as well as personal gifts and mementos to celebrate their participation in the international finals.

This event is a chance for  recreational golfers to easily enter a local event where they have a legitimate chance to advance to the international finals to play against players from around the world.  What makes this a one-of-a-kind tournament is that while many international amateur tournaments already exist, they are either intended for the high amateur players or are local competitions that do not lead to the international finals.  

The ultimate goal of this event is to make all participants feel like winners versus only a select few who advance to the tournament’s next stage.

At the end of the day, winning is secondary to the experience.

Visit the nearest Jack Nicklaus counters at Rustan’s Department Stores in Makati, Shangri-La Plaza, Alabang Town Center, Gateway Mall Cubao, Ayala Center Cebu; Robinsons Place Manila; SM Makati, Clark; and Landmark to register.

Registration ends on March 12. 

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E-mail me at anthony@realsports.com.ph and follow me on twitter @anthonysuntay.