Celebrity bash kicks off Konica Pro-am

Some of the country’s top corporate bigwigs take a break today as they play in the Celebrity Konica Minolta Pro-am at The Riviera’s Langer in Silang, Cavite.

With former President Fidel Ramos leading the select field, some 71 business leaders team up with the country’s top pros in the one-ball, twosome format in the tournament sponsored by U-Bix Corp.

A Toyota car will be staked as a hole-in-one prize, aside from cash prizes to the winning pros and fabulous merchandises to their amateur partners.

The 18-hole affair will be preceded by the hitting of ceremonial tee shots by Ramos, Bert Bravo of U-Bix Corp., Toyota Motor Phils’ Daniel Isla, DHL-WWWExpress’ Rod Feliciano, Commo. Danny Pizarro (retired) and DOTC Secretary Leandro Mendoza, who is also the president of the organizing National Golf Association of the Philippines.

Another Toyota model will be staked as a hole-in-one prize during the tournament proper on March 5-8.

Today’s event is a prelude to the P3-M Konica Minolta National Pro-Am blasting tomorrow in the series backed by PAL, Pagcor, Stradcom Corp., Grappa’s, ServiceMaster Services, San Miguel Corp., S-Yard, Pivo  Praha, Epson Printers, Toyota Motor Phils. Inc. (TMPI), Bank of Commerce, Brother Office Equipment, Riso Digital Duplicators, BPI, Metrobank, KM Bizhub, RCBC, Landbank and Unionbank.

Jay Bayron, the amateur champion last year in partnership with Edwin Estrera, will now play as a pro.

Gerard Cantada, the three-time champion with amateur pal JR Tanpinco beginning 2003, will team up with Erwin Vinluan this time as Tanpinco is still finishing his studies in San Diego, California.

Vinluan was the amateur champion in 2001 with Noli Kempis as his pro partner.