Southwoods eyes Fil-Am three-peat

BAGUIO CITY -- CAP Manila Southwoods will aim for a rare third straight win during the 53rd annual Fil-Am men’s invitational golf tournament at Baguio Country Club and Club John Hay fairways that fires off Dec. 2.

The reigning Fil Championship Flight titlist of the biggest and longest running amateur golf tournament in the world is defending the title minus stalwarts Cookie LaO and two-time national amateur champion Angelo Que who joined the professional ranks this year.

But Mizuno DHL will be the biggest challenge to CAP Manila Southwoods’ bid even as Forest Hills and Fairways & Blue Waters will try to improve their standing in the annual golfing event that has been drawing golf aficionados from all over the world to Baguio City every first week of December.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, herself an avid golfer, lauded the organizers as she acknowledged the invaluable investment the tournament gives to help bolster the country’s effort to attain sustainable development. She enjoined the golfing committee to remain "a steadfast partner in our vision to realize a strong republic that takes care of our people and their future."

Former President Fidel V. Ramos will lead the ceremonial tee-off with national and local government officials today at the BCC and CJH Fairways. Joining him are Baguio Rep. Mauricio Domogan, Baguio City Mayor Bernardo Vergara, Benguet Gov. Raul Molintas, BCC president Federico Agcaoili, general manager Anthony de Leon, CJH chair Robert John Sobrepeña and golf club manager Heiner Maulbecker.

Senators Loren Legarda-Leviste, Juan Flavier and Vicente Sotto who will play for Capitol Hills Golf Club in the Am championship flight division will also grace the occasion.

Some 600 golfers coming from the Asia Pacific region will vie for the honors as 60 teams compete among each other in the week-long tourney.

Thirty-six foreign and 84 local and national teams will vie in the country’s most successful international event.

tournament bankrolled by Smart, CAP, Northwest Airlines, Wilsons, Byron Travel, Premier Wines, John Hay Poro Point Development Corporation and San Migeul Beer.