Riviera leg ushers in Nokia intervillage circuit

The Nokia Intervillage golf tournament series will open its 13th season tomorrow with the staging of the first tournament at the Riviera country club in Silang, Cavite.

Ten teams representing villages in Parañaque, Las Piñas and Muntinlupa will compete in the 18 hole tournament indicating a field of more than a hundred golfers in the event launched by Videocom in 1991 to promote fellowship among village golfers.

"I welcome once again my golfing friends to the Nokia Intervillage golf series. We have endeavored to make the Intervillage not just a contest of golfing skills but also an occasion to renew friendship, generate goodwill and comradeship among the villagers. I would like to thank Nokia and our other sponsors for their continued support," said Videocom chief Vince Villafuerte.

Other backers of the popular event are Alaxan, BJ Marthel International, 357 Boracay, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) and Pisanti golf wear.

Villages competing in the south sector tournament are UBF Homes led by team captain Bart Puzon, Alabang 400 (Mert Besa), Alabang Hills (Joe Justo), Better Living (Joel Althea Jr.), Marcelo Green (Luis Nunez), Merville Park (Tata Caranceja), Raffy Ilagan (Tahanan Village), Dave Pabalan (Pilar Village), South Bay Gardens (Ely Garcia), BF Resort (Gaudencio Cantos Jr.)

Parañaque Mayor Joey Marquez, a member of the Tahanan golf team is expected to lead a cast of village golfers and celebrities in the tournament as the participating teams try to get a head start in the race for three spots allocated for the south sector in the Nokia Grand Intervillage championship slated November.

From the Riviera, the Intervillage moves to the Orchard on April 26 for the North sector tournament featuring villages in Quezon City.