Bigger prizes staked in Uratex Caddies

Robert Cheng said yesterday he is putting up bigger prizes to add more significance to the resumption of one of the world’s most unique tournaments–the P1.5-million Uratex National Caddies Championship.

"I shelved the 14th edition of our championship last year for personal reasons," said Cheng, the executive committee chairman. "But we are resuming it this month for the sake of our caddies.

"I felt bad when I didn’t hold it last year because that deprived the caddies to play in their own tournament. But I feel great now that I am continuing it this year and beyond. Again, I wish them all the luck."

Cheng also said that he is reviving the tournament in coordination with the First Gentleman Foundation Inc., which is headed by Mike Arroyo.

The tournament–72 holes for the men and 54 for the women-will start Dec 17 at the Valley Golf and Country Club’s Executive Course in Antipolo City.

Cheng decided to increase the prizes after meeting with the organizing committee headed by co-chairman Col. Abe Villanueva and Manding Santos with Taby Tabaniag, Jake Ayson and Roger Flores as members.

The prizes–all in the form of gift certificates–will go to the top 40 in the men’s individual competition, top 60 in the men’s team event and the top 20 in the women’s division.

In the past 13 tournaments, only the top 30 in the men’s event, top 40 in the team competition and top 10 in the women’s class were given prizes.

The men’s team and men’s individual champions will receive P75,000 and one colored television sets each, while the women’s winner will bring home P20,000.

Second prizes in the men’s team and individual events are worth P42,350 each, with the third and fourth finishers getting P36,300 and P24,000, respectively.

The runner-up in the women’s division will win P15,000, while third place is worth P10,000, fourth P8,000, fifth P6,000, sixth P4,000, seventh P3,000 and from eight to 10th P2,200 apiece.