RP-Japan jungolf on at Midlands

Three of the four Philippine Sportswriters Association awardees try to prove their worth against a tough opposition as the new jungolf season kicks off with the Philippines-Japan Friendship tournament starting today at the Tagaytay Midlands Golf Club.

It will be a brief 36-hole showdown of the country’s jungolf aces against visitors from Fukuoka, Japan with Jayvie Agojo, Dottie Ardina and Allenby Jiro Ramos — all set to be cited by the PSA this coming Friday for their international exploits in 2003 — leading the Philippine contingent.

Preceding the 8 a.m. tee-off is the hitting of the ceremonial balls by LPGA standout Jenny Rosales, Jungolf Foundation of the Philippines chair Amalia Montecillo and Willy Ocier and Jerry Tiu, chair and president, respectively, of the Tagaytay Midlands Golf Club.

They are expected to be joined by top officials of the Philippine-Japan Camaraderie Association.

Up for grabs in the tourney capping the holiday break series of the Samsung Jungolf Tour are division honors for boys and girls in Class A (15-17 years), Class B (13-14) and Class C (11-12) and the special division for players 10 years and under.

Tournament sponsors are the Tagaytay Midlands, IWSI, Comworks, Milkjoy, La Jolla Golf, Bong Lopez Golf Management and Nelson de Villa.

The Japanese, who arrived yesterday, are led by Hirotsugu Kokubo, Katsuya Ijiri, Kouji Kunikata, Tooru Tunoda, Kensuke Uemoto, Yuuki Khono, Yuuta Tachikawa, Kazuhiro Ohtani, Ryuui Hashimoto and Kenshiro Ikegami.

They will be matching up against local contenders who have already warmed up by the exciting holiday battles held in Southwoods, Alabang and Riviera.

Agojo, the biggest name in the field, will be ranged against the likes of balikbayan Cristina Corpuz, Remijin Camping, Katrina Gonzales, Matet Salivio, Linnel and Geleen Handog.

Ramos eyes another victory against veterans JR Gonzales and JP de Claro and Ardina should face a big challenge from Ma-an Legaspi when she returns after a long absence in the school season series.