Showdown looms in Airlift Asia Classic match play

A grand showdown of circuit standouts looms in the Airlift Asia Classic match play championships, the ninth and final stop for the summer of the Samsung Jungolf Tour, slated May 27-29 at the Riviera Golf and Country Club in Silang, Cavite.

All of the circuit top guns are in the banner field of 130 players in the event marking the conclusion of a highly-successful summer tour with Airlift Asia’s Rico Brizuela giving it a major sponsorship boost.

The top seeds in their respective divisions based on their performances in nine previous legs are Nonoy Negrido and Jayvee Agojo in Class A, IG Gutierrez and Linnel de Villa in Class B, Jik Jik Abdon and Crystal Faith Superal in Class C, Wolen Juan Superal and Dottie Ardina in Class D and Bino dela Paz and Katrina Potenciano in Class E.

"It’s been a big summer for the kids and we’re just glad to have given them the opportunity to hone their skills. We couldn’t have done it if not for our sponsors led by Samsung and Airlift Asia," said Jungolf chair Amalia Montecillo.

The 54-hole tourney is also given major backing by Philippine Airlines, Air Liquide Phils., Global Lighting and Exito Manufacturing. Pisanti Golf, Bellevue Manila, Third World Eximport, HBW Ent., MCCI Corp. and BF Technology are minor sponsors of the tour.

The first two days will serve as the stroke play eliminations with the top four in each division advancing to the match play stage.

Those in the Class A, Class B divisions will be playing 18 holes in the morning semifinals and another 18 in the afternoon finals. Players in Class C, Class D and Class E, will play nine holes in the semifinals and another nine in the finals.

Classes A, B and C will play at the Couples course while D and E will be at the executive course.

Wolen Juan Superal, the new toast of the circuit following his marvelous run of under-par rounds capped by a 60 at Canlubang, will gun for his 10th straight win, including the PAL Junior Interclub.

Jungolf president Gerry Handog said that they have also scheduled a special leg in Bacolod after the Riviera event.