Caddies’ program bears early fruit

BACOLOD — It was supposed to be just a routine exposure stint, one to introduce three unknowns to big-time golf.

But after five eventful days of the Philippine Amateurs in one of the toughest tests in golf here, the Labajo brothers Mario and Joseph, and reed-thin Jonel Ababa have made heads turns and gained believers out of a lot.

"The National Golf Association of the Philippines commends the National Caddies’ Open program," retired vice-admiral Luisito Fernandez, also the NGAP sec-gen, said yesterday. "They did well here and we expect to see them play in more tournaments."

The NCO program took the three into its care after a ranking tournament last March, funding, feeding and housing them at the Calatagan Golf and Country Club with the end in view of producing a Philippine team member in the next two years.

"The program has gone on for just eight months and results have started to show," said sportsman Hermie Esguerra, who shares chairmanship chores at the NCO with Ben Abalos, a former caddy. "The results we gained in the RP Am shows we’re doing something right and encourages us to continue."

Fernandez was one of the first people to show appreciation to the efforts of the NCO bets after Mario Labajo defeated local boy and RP pool member JR Tanpinco, 3-and-2, for third place.

"Definitely, the caddies’ program, as witnessed in this event, will be of big help to the overall development of amateur golf (in the country)," added Fernandez, who put together the Philippines’ three national championships this year.

The 34-year-old Mario made the semis by taking out RP No. 2 and top seed Artemio Murakami, 1-up, on Friday, a reversal that reverberated all over the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club course.

Joseph, on the other hand, ousted Terrence Macatangay and Gene Bondoc to make the quarters, while Ababa was the first to post an upset at the start of match play after a 4-and-3 win over fellow caddies’ champ and third-ranked RP amateur Jay Bayron.

The three, though, fell at the hands of Malaysian No. 2 Siva Chandhran, the tournament runner-up to Juvic Pagunsan. Siva heaped praises on his victims while showing surprise when told of who and how humble their beginnings were.

"They are good players. They showed a lot of heart and promise," Chandhran said in halting English. "They just need to play in more tournaments."