US-bound Miñoza vies in TCC Invitational

MANILA, Philippines - Frankie Miñoza primes up for his US Seniors Champions Tour debut as he competes against the best of the best in the P4.7 million The Country Club Invitational which reels off Jan. 27 at the TCC layout in Laguna.

Miñoza is in the thick of preparations for his stint in the lucrative US circuit where he qualified by finishing joint runner-up in last year’s tough qualifier in Florida with next week’s event serving as a fitting tune-up for the smooth-swinging two-time Philippine Open champion.

But he will be up against the leading local players, headed by Juvic Pagunsan, who foiled his title bid in a playoff in the 2006 edition of the annual event put up by golf patron Ricky Razon, chairman and CEO of the International Container Terminal Services, Inc.

Pagunsan repeated the feat in 2008, beating Angelo Que by 11 strokes but the latter, who also won in 2007, got back at the former to capture last year’s crown.

That makes Pagunsan and Que as the men to watch in the top-level 72-hole event but Miñoza will also have to contend with a slew of players, including the event’s past champions, as they chase the top P1.4 million purse.

Miñoza’s presence also provides prestige and honor to what has long been considered as the country’s major golfing championship, whose 36-player roster includes the top finishers in the Order of Merit of last year’s ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour.

OOM winner Jay Bayron, Tony Lascuña, Mars Pucay, Pagunsan and Que, who all skipped the Philippine Open last December, will all be in the TCC tilt along with the likes of Murakami, 2009 OOM winner and former RP Open winner Elmer Salvador, and former winners Cassius Casas and Jerome Delariarte.

Meanwhile, the leading pros will team up with the event’s guests in the traditional 18-hole pro-am event on Jan. 26 with fabulous prizes at stake during awards rites in the afternoon where Razon will announce the ICTSI-PGT’s 12-leg circuit this year.

Others seeing action in the tournament proper are Benjie Magada, Ferdie Aunzo, Ramil Bisera, Jun Bernis, Elmer Saban, Orlan Sumcad, Antonio Asistio II, Anthony Fernando, Danny Zarate, Richard Sinfuego, Rufino Bayron, Rey Pagunsan, Omar Dungca, Ebarra Quiachon, Michael Bibat, Randy Garalde, Richard Abaring, Joel Opaco, Cookie La’O, Joenard Rates, Gerald Rosales, Albin Engino, Ruben Sasutil and Roland Marabe.

Also in the fold are the country’s leading amateurs from the ICTSI golf stable, led by Dante Becierra and Peter Villaber and national team mainstays Chihiro Ikeda and Dottie Ardina, who will be using the tournament as part of their preparations for various international competitions.