Local aces start campaign in RP Amateur

BACOLOD — Local bets Juvic Pagunsan and Anya Tanpinco head a curious mix of players vying for top honors in the Philippine Amateur Golf Championships unfolding today with the 36-hole stroke play competition at the par-70 Negros Occidental Golf & Country Club here.

Pagunsan, easily the No. 1 player in the ranks today, fired a one-under par 69 yesterday to top the celebrity tournament which kicked off the week-long championships featuring not only the members of the national pool but a slew of foreign bets as well.

Malaysia is bringing in its four-man team seeing action in this year’s Southeast Asian Games the country is hosting Nov. 27-Dec. 5 while other bets from Korea and China are also represented in the annual event organized by the National Golf Association of the Phils.

The tournament also holds for the first time a ladies division, whose 11-player cast is led by former RP Ladies Open winner and Australia-based Frances Bondad.

Seventy male and 11 female players will gun for separate championships with Pagunsan, priming up for the all-pro Japan Open next month, hardpressed to win perhaps the only crown missing in his trophy collection. Out to foil his bid are former champions Artemio Murakami and Jun Bernis, and fellow RP pool members Marvin Dumandan, Erwin Vinluan and Louie Dacudao.

Murakami, the best-placed Filipino at 11th place in the just-concluded Nomura Cup individual competition, shot a 70 yesterday and finished runner up to Pagunsan while Dumandan and Tristan Tabanas each shot a 71.

Tanpinco hopes to flash her familiarity with the water-laced layout designed by the legendary Luis "Golem" Silverio and crowd the fancied Bondad for top honors in the ladies division being held for the first time since 1961.

To spice up the event, the NGAP is offering three slots to the 2006 Philippine Open for the top three finishers in the two-day qualifiers in the men’s side.

"We’re doing this to add color to the already prestigious Philippine Amateur Golf Championship," said NGAP sec-gen retired Vice Admiral Louie Fernandez, who is also the chair of this year PAGC organizing committee.

"Our top players can not afford to relax or they may yet suffer shocking defeats from a foreign-spiced field," said Fernandez, who also declared the tournament open with Mayors Carlo Gamban of Silay City, Bing Leonardia of Bacolod, Boy Zaco, Gen. Roberto Sabularse and NOGCC president Panio Torre hit the ceremonial balls to kick off the one-day celebrity tourney.

The father-and-son team of HariYang-Jae Yang of Korea won the team event, followed by the tandems of Pagunsan-Rico Cajili and Murakami-Rico Cajili in the tournament sponsored by ICTSI, SMC, Pagcor, Aboitiz, Hanjin Group, Petron Blaze, Department of Tourism, PCSO and Philippine Airlines as the event’s official flag carrier.