Rain-hit East course playing longer, tougher

Emphasis will be on iron play and putting when a crack roster of 156 players, including some of the finest shotmakers in the region and the cream of the country’s crop, tackle the rain-softened Wack Wack East course in tomorrow’s first round of the 90th Philippine Open.

Tournament director Boy Blue Ocampo said yesterday they would probably use a preferred lie format in the first two days as recent rains rendered the par-72 layout a bit damp, playing longer than its original yardage and tougher for the leading touring pros in the region.

Pin placements, according to Ocampo, would also be placed on fair but strategic positions, unlike in the past Opens where they were set up on tricky spots to further toughen up the course.

Adam de Vesconte fired a 12-under par 276 to beat local ace Gerald Rosales by four at Mt. Malarayat last year but the Aussie shotmaker is expected to encounter stiff resistance this time with a slew of talented challengers out to foil his back-to-back title bid.

Manila-based Canadian Rick Gibson is also in the list as he returns to the scene of his victory in 2002 when the Open was last held at the ancient course.

There is also the smooth-swinging Terry Pilkadaris, another Aussie bet, who is raring to add the RP Open to his growing list of victories on the Asian Tour. Other fancied leg winners are Thai Chinarat Phadungsil, Wang Ter-Chang of Taiwan, Richard Lee of New Zealand, Scott Strange of Australia, Scot Simon Yates, Jason Knutzon of the US, Rahil Gangjee of India, Boonchu Ruangkit of Thailand, Chris Rodgers of England, Prom Meesawat, also of Thailand, and 2004 Vietnam Masters champion Angelo Que.

Earlier, First Gentleman Mike Arroyo and Wack Wack chairman Ben Abalos Sr. hit the ceremonial drive to formally kick off the blue-ribbon event backed by Crowne Plaza, Globe Telecom, Konica Minolta, Motorola, Philcopy, Posi-Track, Srixon, Sunbolt, U-Bix Corp. and 3636Golf.

Meanwhile, Rosales served notice of his bid for a second RP Open crown after ruling an all-Filipino field in 2000 at Riviera as he led his team to victory in the pro-am event yesterday.

Drawing solid games from amateur partners Macario Tiu, Romulo Santos and Matthew Manotoc, Rosales’ Team Wack Wack romped away with the top honors by pooling a 15-under 57 aggregate to beat 22 other teams.

The one-day tournament, co-presented by International Container Terminal Services Inc. and Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, served as the kick off tournament for the 90th staging of the country’s premier golf championship also considered as Asia’s oldest.