Defending champion Caloy Coscolluela will be staking his crown against seasoned rivals like Carlo Gamban, himself a former champ, Danny Pizarro, Sengyo Kato, Benny Gopez and Richie Garcia.
OV Espiritu and Balti Baltazar are the players to watch.
The 54-hole tourney is sponsored by Taylor Made Adidas, Pan West, Pagcor, Pfizer, DHL/WWW Express and Masters, Sports/Mizuno. At stake as a hole-in-one prize is a Toyota Altis courtesy of Toyota Motors Philippines, Inc.
Meanwhile, upsets marred the opening round of the NGAP National age-group championships at the Faldo course of the Eagle Ridge Golf Club course in Gen. Trias, Cavite.
Lawrence Negrido shocked Judson Eustaquio and Miko Alejandro downed IG Gutierrez in Class B. They will face Charles Hong and Thomas Escano in the next round. In class A, Jorge Victor Paez beat John Joseph Alvarez, DJ Padilla edged brother Don Padilla, Justin Limjap defeated Jusper Braga and the fancied Michael Bibat trounced Martin Mediana.
Class C matches saw Faisal Samanodi, John Victor Cogal, John Kier Abdon and Miko Yee turn back their rivals. In Class D, Rei Medestomas, Mia Piccio, Wendy Superal and Archie Boy Moralizon won their matches to advance to the next round.