Visa woes imperil golfers bid in World Amateur

The Philippines was deprived of a chance to send a crack squad to the World Amateur Golf Team Championships in Puerto Rico next week when an American consul denied the issuance of visas to Jun Bernis and Michael Bibat yesterday despite assurances from the National Golf Association of the Philippines that their stay in the United States would be temporary.

The consul of the Non-Immigrant Visa Unit, manning Window No. 3, said that Bernis and Bibat failed to convince him that the players’ social, family, economic or professional ties were compelling enough to ensure their return to the country.

Roger Retuerto, the long-time coach of the national team, was also found ineligible for a non-immigrant visa.

The team was supposed to leave for the US on Oct. 19 on its way to Puerto Rico.

Bernis and Bibat brought with them pertinent papers and relevant materials to support their family and economic ties, including letters of endorsement and appeal from the NGAP guaranteeing their return to the country.

In fact, Jake Ayson, executive director of the NGAP, the country’s governing golf body, accompanied the players to the US Embassy and vouched for their return after the completion of the event set Oct. 28-31 at the Westin Rio Mar Beach Resort and Country Club in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

But the consul stood firm on his earlier decision, saying that there remains a chance for the two players to go TNT after the event.

It was indeed a big blow for the RP golfers, who went through a series of grueling qualifiers to make it to the national squad, underwent rigorous training to keep in shape and had looked forward with enthusiasm and confidence to represent the country in the world’s most prestigious golfing event for amateurs.

But their long-cherished dream of carrying the country’s colors in an event of such magnitude was shattered with the non-issuance of their US visas.

On a team built around Juvic Pagunsan, Jerome Delariarte and Angelo Que, the Philippines, which hosted the World Amateurs in 1996, finished third in the men’s division in 2002 in Malaysia. With Pagunsan at the helm and Bernis and Bibat in tow, the Philippines is confident of contending for the men’s crown against a 75-team field teeming with talent.

Their credentials speak for themselves.

Pagunsan, 26, emerged the best Filipino finisher in this year’s Philippine Open, upstaging the revered local and foreign pros to finish second behind winner Edward Michaels of the US.

Bernis swept the two big titles staked in the ranks this year, beating a stellar field to win the DHL-NGAP Amateur Open in Canlubang and besting the cream of the crop in the National Amateur Championships at Villamor.

Bibat looms as the country’s next golf star with the 20-year-old shotmaker creating a big impact by winning the tough Singapore Amateur Open recently and making it to the national team.

With Bernis and Bibat out of the team, the NGAP decided to elevate former national champion Artemio Murakami from alternate to regular player along with Gene Bondoc with Erwin Vinluan as the team’s alternate.

Meanwhile, the ladies team of Jayvie Agojo, Anya Tanpinco and last-minute qualifier Lora Roberto left for the US last night en route to Puerto Rico in time for the Oct. 20-23 event dubbed the Espirito Santo Trophy.