Foreign aces see action in Philippine Amateurs

Manila, Philippines - Somprad Rattanasuwan of Thailand and Singapore’s Gregory Foo head the compact roster of foreign entries vying in the Philippine Amateur Golf Championship firing off Tuesday at Riviera’s Langer course in Silang, Cavite.

Rattanasuwan, who anchored Thailand’s final day rally to beat the hosts in the Montecillo Cup at Mt. Malarayat recently, and Foo, spearhead of Singapore’s national team, are two of the fancied bets tipped to contend for the crown in the annual tournament using the 72-hole stroke play format for the first time.

The event used to be a 36-hole elims with the top 32 clashing in the match play phase, including the 36-hole finale.

Del Monte’s Clyde Mondilla clobbered Miguel Tabuena in last year’s championship at home with the latter, also the silver medalist in the last Asian Games, opting to turn pro last month.

But the local field remains formidable with Jobim Carlos and Art Arbole of ICTSI-Canlubang in the fold along with ICTSI-The Country Club mainstay Zanie Boy Gialon, the low amateur in last week’s ICTSI Classic of the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour at Malarayat.

Carlos, 18, is also coming off a seven-shot win in individual play at the Montecillo Cup and the low amateur in the ICTSI Royal Northwoods Championship, while Arbole ran away with the Sabah Am crown two weeks ago.

Arbole, 21, also topped the NGAP’s Mindanao Regional championship at Del Monte.

Rattanasuwan, meanwhile, finished fourth in the individual competition at the Montecillo tilt, a place higher than Tabuena, shooting a 70 in the final round to lead the Thais to a come-from-behind victory in the team championship.

Foo, on the other hand, has taken over the spearhead’s role of the Singaporean squad after the graduation of Quincy Qwek to the pro ranks. He finished second in individual play to Thailand’s Poom Saksansin in the last Lion City Cup in Malaysia.