Casas all pumped up

Still riding high on his recent Philippine Open conquest, Cassius Casas returns to his home club in perfect mood for an initial strike in the new local professional tour which resumes tomorrow with the College Assurance Plan-Legends Classic at the Manila Southwoods.

The 34-year-old Casas, his bank account loaded with cash after his P1.5-million win at Wack Wack, will be eyeing something more for his pride when he leads the field for the P700,000 event.

College Assurance Plan is back as the title sponsor of the tour now on its fifth stop after previous legs at Masters course of Southwoods, Camp John Hay, Sherwood Hills and Forest Hills.

"We know for a fact that our pros are in the peak of their games following their Philippine Open campaigns. So we can expect a lot of action and drama unfolding on the fairways and greens each round," said Atty. Enrique Sobrepeña, president and CEO of CAP.

The CAP support has ensured funding for another five-in-one affair where separate prize packages for the pros, the seniors, the super seniors, the pro-am and the amateurs will be at stake.

A total of P500,000 will be disputed in the regular division, P60,000 for the seniors (50 years and above), P20,000 for the super seniors and P25,000 in the pro-am.

The tourney will evoke a lot of nostalgia for club management as the Legends Classic will serve as the last major tournament before it undertakes a massive regreening to the new technology TifEagle grass before the year ends.

Bob Sobrepeña, chair of both the Manila Southwoods and the Philippine Tour, said that the greens of Legends have served their purpose as one of the trend-setters of the all-weather craze in the country.

"In a way, it’s also a fitting tribute to the course that contributed a lot to the growth of Fil-Estate as a force in the property sector," he said.