Golfers wary of hosts’ course edge

BUSAN — After two days at the driving range, the highly regarded national golf team, a consistent Asian Games medal machine since 1986, finally sampled Monday the Asiad Country Club course the continent’s top parbusters will officially tackle Oct. 3-6.

With the US-based Ria Quiazon joining Heidi Chua and Carmellete Villaroman Sunday, the women’s team finally gets to work out in full force along with the men’s squad composed of Juvic Pagunsan, Angelo Que, Marlon Dizon and Jerome Delariarte.

The first of three straight days of practice organizers reserved for participants was most welcome for the workout-hungry Filipinos, who couldn’t find a golf course where they can practice since arrival Thursday.

"The courses that are open are for members only," said women’s coach Alice Andrada, who bristled at the failure of organizers to provide a vital component of the sport prior to actual play.

Pagunsan and company were not too worried, however, having paced and measured the rolling par-72 Asiad course and tested the greens during a secret, two-day workout arranged by the Korea Golf Association a week before the departure of the RP delegation.

"Of course, the Koreans have been practically sleeping in the course," National Golf Association of the Philippines executive director Jake Ayson had joked after the Filipinos came home from their quick training trip.

All told, the Philippines has one gold, four silver and five bronze medals since golf stroked its way into the ever-growing Asiad roster of sports in 1986 in Seoul.

Ramon Brobio, who couldn’t hit the big time as a pro, is the most bemedalled Filipino Asiad golfer with an individual gold and a bronze in the men’s team in 1986 and a silver in the men’s team and bronze in individual play in 1990.

A team built around Cassius Casas and Danny Zarate nailed a silver in 1994 while Gerald Rosales shone with an individual silver and a team silver in 1998.

Jamille Jose also picked up two bronze medals in the individual and team divisions in 1990 while Dorothy Delasin, Jennifer Rosales and Ria Quiazon salvaged another team bronze in 1998.

NGAP president Rod Feliciano, who arrived yesterday with Ayson and women’s team alternate Aileen Yao, said he expects the men’s team to perform well with Pagunsan, the 2001 Southeast Asian Games individual champion, and the pro-bound Que looming as strong bets for the gold.

"Juvic and Angelo have been playing well lately. If we get lucky, we might even score big in the team competition," he said.

The usual four-to-play, three-to-count format will be used in men’s team play. It’s three-to-play, two-to-count in the women’s division. The score of each player for four days will decide the individual race.