Nationals target top 10 in Eisenhower Cup

SOUTH AUSTRALIA – The Philippines will put premium on putting as it eyes a Top 10 finish in the Eisenhower Cup of the World Amateur Golf Team Championships which begins today at the Adelaide and Grange Golf Clubs in Adelaide.

With Ferdie Aunzo, Rufino Bayron and Jerson Balasabas expected to hold their own against the long hitters in the fold, coach Bong Lopez said it will all boil down to the players’ performance on the sleek putting surface of the two courses.

“We have good players in Ferdie, Rufino and Jerson who can all hit the ball long so I see no problem with the long holes,” said Lopez, also the man at the helm of the ICTSI golf stable. “The question is whether or not they can adapt to the speed of the greens.”

The team, whose stint here is under the auspices of the National Golf Association of the Phils., spent most of the two-day practice on the greens of the two courses which host over 200 players from 70 countries, including a number of amateurs already playing in tour events overseas.

Aunzo, the reigning national champion, opens the Philippines’ bid at 11:45 a.m. against Belgium’s Hugues Joannes followed by Bayron against Kevin Hesbois at 11:56 a.m. and then Balasabas, raring to prove his worth on his first stint in the national team, against Xavier Feyaerts at 12:07 p.m.

The Filipinos, sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Airlines as official carrier, Stradcom Corp., Dynamic Sports and LORO Shirts, the official outfitter, will play at the Royal Adelaide layout, shorter than the Grange course but tougher with narrow fairways, deep ravines and undulating greens.

Lopez hopes his wards would dish out a decent round at Royal Adelaide and score at the Grange’s west layout where par-5s are reachable.

Tipped to crowd for the crown are powerhouse teams the United States, Australia, Sweden, Spain, Korea, Japan, Finland, Denmark, South Africa, England and defending champion The Netherlands.

“Our modest goal is to finish in the Top 10,” said Lopez. “I think we can do it. Our players have the length and short game to compete with the best here. They just have to get the feel of the fast and hard greens of both courses.”

The ICTSI-backed ladies squad finished 19th in last week’s Espirito Santo Trophy in a big rebound from a joint 30th effort by the 2006 team in South Africa. The men’s team, then headed by Marvin Dumandan, Jay Bayron and Michael Bibat, placed joint 38th two years ago.