Huge field competes in 56th Fil-Am

BAGUIO - Some 1,200 golfers from the Asia Pacific will shoot it out in the mountain resort city for the 56th Fil-Am Golf Invitational showdown at the Baguio Country Club (BCC) and Camp John Hay fairways from Nov. 23-Dec. 10.

While the golfest, considered the biggest amateur golf tournament in the world, is still a good 10 weeks away, organizer said the event has drawn a record field.

At least 25 clubs from Mainland US, Hawaii, Guam, Okinawa, Japan, South Korea, and Australia and 81 local clubs have registered for the tournament.

Ten more golf clubs are in the wait list.

Fil-division and Am-division back-to-back Nike Golf team defending champions will seek a repeat of its feat with playing coach Tommy Manotoc in the fold.

Manila Southwoods, which lost the coveted crown to Nike last year, is raring to stop Nike’s title retention bid.

Anthony de Leon, BCC general manager, and Bong Vilchez, CJH golf club manager, co-chair of the tournament said the first stage of the two-week golf classic will focus on the Senior Division on Nov. 23-Dec. 1.

De Leon said the regular division will be staged Dec. 2-10.

Like in previous years, the 72-hole tour game format is five-to-play, four-to- count using the Stableford scoring system. — Artemio Dumlao