Record cast of caddies vies in Uratex golf

The 14th Uratex National Caddies Championship, a unique event exclusively for Filipino bag-toters, reels off today with a record field of 63 teams competing for team and individual honors.

New venue of the P2-million event Robert Cheng launched in 1988 is Valley Golf and Country Club’s par 70, 5,396-yard Executive Course.

"We in the executive and organizing committees are elated that caddies from golf clubs from all over the country are here in their own national championship, " Cheng said yesterday.

"Despite our economic condition, 63 teams, 46 in the men’s division and 17 in the women’s class, are gathered once again in this tournament. I wish them all the luck," he said.

Action yesterday was focused on the traditional rules lecture veteran rules man Taby Tabaniag conducted. The caddies then played their final practice rounds.

Highlighting today’s activities is the traditional hitting of the ceremonial drives at 7 a.m. Heading the special guests is First Gentleman Jose Miguel ‘Mike’ Arroyo.

The others are Sen. Tito Sotto, Valley GCC president Alex ‘Bobot’ Marquez, Capitol Hills president Boy Roman, Frank Manalo and organizing committee co-chairman Col. Abe Villanueva.

The previous record was the 56 teams that competed in the 13th edition of the event played at its original home, the Capitol Hills Golf Club, in 2000.

For the first time in 15 years, Capitol Hills is not the host since it is under renovation. Valley, through the board headed by Marquez, readily agreed to host it.

Marquez is also head of the tourism board promoting Antipolo City through Mayor Angelito Gatlabayen.

Cheng is resuming the championship this week in coordination with First Gentleman Inc. headed by Arroyo, himself an avid golfer.

He launched the event 15 years ago to provide Filipino caddies a national tournament of their own, help them financially and discover talent along the way.

Davao City’s Jay Bayron is the tournament’s last discovery who won in 2000. He was a member of the Philippine team that placed second in the Putra Cup in Hong Kong last week.

Previous champions who are now competing in the local pro circuit include Al Cruz, Jr., Rodolfo Cuello, Winifredo Superal and Vic Santia Jr.

Competition is in menís team and individual event slated for 54 beginning tomorrow.

Awaiting the team and menís individual winners are P75,000 in gift certificates each plus one colored television set apiece donated by Frank Manalo and Bayer Philippines, said Manding Santos, co-chairs the organizing committee with Villanueva.The womenís champion will win P20,000. And for this year, all teams that donít win prizes will go home P3,000, thanks again to Roberts generosity.