Salvador, Miñoza golfers to watch as Phl Open begins

MANILA, Philippines - Elmer Salvador tries to become the first player in more than five decades to score back-to-back wins in the Philippine Open while Frankie Miñoza seeks his third jewel in the P2 million event firing off today at the Valley Golf Club in Antipolo.

“Pipilitin ko (I’ll try my best),” said the reticent Salvador on the eve of the 94th staging of the country’s premier golfing championship. Salvador marked his 40th birthday last year by ruling the Open at Mt. Malarayat, beating Dutch Guido Van der Valk by three strokes with the Davaoeño shotmaker again hoping for a big bash this weekend.

No player has won back-to-back Open crowns since the legendary Celestino Tugot strung up four straight from 1955.

Salvador faces a slew of challengers in his title drive in the 72-hole championship sponsored by San Miguel Corp.

For one, there is Miñoza, who is raring to annex his third crown, his confidence boosted by a string of impressive performances abroad. He recently qualified for the US Seniors Champions Tour next year and turned in a joint runner-up finish in the Honda Seniors Masters in Japan three weeks ago.

Miñoza ended his long chase for a first Phl Open crown in 1998 at Riviera’s Couples course but it took him another nine years to annex his second title at Wack Wack in 2007.

Miñoza’s presence also provides prestige and honor to what has long been considered Asia’s oldest golfing championship after five of the Top 10 players on the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour – Jay Bayron, Juvic Pagunsan, Tony Lascuna, Mars Pucay and Angelo Que – opted to compete in the richer Black Mountain Masters in Thailand of the Asian Tour, also slated this week.

But the Phl Open field remains as talent-laden as ever with Marvin Dumandan, the winningest player on the 2010 local circuit with three victories, Artemio Murakami, 2001 winner Cassius Casas, Benjie Magada and Ferdie Aunzo tipped to crowd Salvador and Miñoza for the crown.

The top 50 players, plus ties and amateurs, after 36 holes in the tournament proper will advance to the final 36 holes with ties for first to be decided via sudden death playoff.

Also in the fold are Carito Villaroman, Ramil Bisera, Jerome Delariarte, Jun Bernis, Richard Sinfuego, Anthony Fernando, Antonio Asistio II, Elmer Saban, Cookie La’O, Gene Bondoc, Rufino Bayron, Michael Bibat, former champion Robert Pactolerin and rookie pros Jhonnel Ababa and Mhark Fernando.

The event is backed by Pagcor, Orient Pearl, Amalgamated Motors (Phils.) Inc., Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Rudy Project, Yamaha Golf Car, Kilton Motor Corp, EFC and friends of NGAP and Club Car Phls. as hole-in-one sponsor and A Round of Golf as media partner. Motorola is the event’s 2-way radio supplier.

The country’s leading jungolfers, headed by Asian Games silver medalist Miguel Tabuena, are also seeing action. They include Andres Saldana, Miggy Yee, Jobim Carlos, AR Ramos, Jahns Keanu and reigning national champion Clyde Mondilla and 11-year-old Lester Lagman, a Junior World campaigner in San Diego and in the Optimist Junior International in Florida.