Boracay's Fairways bids for RP Open

The Philippine Open, Asia's oldest golf championship and the country's most prestigious golf tournament, may yet find a home in the event the fabled tournament is calendared by the Asian PGA Tour in the current season.

And it may even find itself in a rustic setting as the world famous island of Boracay in Aklan is being lined up as the Open destination after officials of the Fairways & Bluewater Resort Golf and Country Club yesterday signified their intention to host the event.

"We want to put it on record that we are going to make a bid," said Fairways & Bluewater chairman Noel "Toti" Cariño. "Our course is at par with the best in the world and the facilities are just as excellent."

Cariño added that he is looking forward to meeting with officials of the National Golf Association of the Philippines, the governing body of golf in the country, and the Asian PGA Tour to make their bid official.

The Philippine Open was originally scheduled Feb. 17-20 but the NGAP, which owns the right to stage the event, refused to hold it at the Manila Southwoods, prompting the Asian PGA Tour to stage the event with Casino Filipino as title sponsor.

With Casino Filipino, which hosted last year's RP Open, also at Southwoods, now unlikely to put in another P8 million to hold the event, the NGAP said the Asian PGA will have to look for new sponsors under their five-year contract.

If ever, the Philippine Open will only be staged late this year since the Asian PGA Tour has already calendared its events up to June.

Meantime, the Fairways & Bluewater Golf and Country Club will hold its first Chairman's Cup in honor of Cariño tomorrow with top government officials, movie and TV personalities and other celebrities participating.