Local, foreign stars start bid in Phl Open

MANILA, Philippines - The 2011 ICTSI Philippine Open unwraps today with Artemio Murakami hopeful of a shot at back-to-back triumphs and the rest of the local contingent confident of their chances against a crack foreign field in the $300,000 event at the newly refurbished Wack Wack East Course.

Murakami and 45 other Filipinos are in the 150-strong starting field, looking to turn the weekend play to a battle among themselves.

“I feel that I’m playing well and I hope I can pick up the momentum in the next four days,” said Murakami, the 2010 Phl Open champion at Valley now with a chance to become the first player in over five decades to win the fabled event in successive years.

Murakami sought the help of coaches Roger Retuerto and Bong Lopez to fine-tune his swing particularly for this blue-ribbon event presented by International Container Terminal Services, Inc.

He, however, refused to divulge the advice he got from Retuerto and Lopez, saying it’s “a top secret” which he hopes could help him become the first Phl Open champion to defend his title since the legendary Celestino Tugot won four straight championships from 1955.

Angelo Que, Miguel Tabuena and Juvic Pagunsan also feel they’re in good form to contend for the championship, which is making its return to the Asian Tour fold and to its home course after a two-year absence.

They mentioned several revered names on the Asian Tour who are in the fold, yet they expressed high hopes the local bets can rise up to the challenge and emerge victorious in the 72-hole event.

“Every time I play at home, I’m highly motivated to win. I believe it’s the same with the other Filipino players. It’s about pride,” said Que, among former champions chasing a second Phl Open crown.

“I placed ninth in India. Though my putting has been on and off, my overall game is okay. I’m working on my putting, and I hope I do well this week,” said Que, winner here in 2008.

“I have made three cuts and I hope to keep it up. It motivates me, it makes me work hard,” said Tabuena, the young Filipino sensation, who turned pro after winning a silver medal in the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, China and making the grade in the Qualifying School early in the year.

Tabuena said familiarity with the course gives the Filipino shotmakers distinct advantage over the foreign bets.

“I’m in good shape and I believe I have a good chance,” said Pagunsan, who, as an amateur, finished runner-up to American Edward Michaels in Riviera in 2004.

The former Asian Tour top rookie hit eight birdies against one bogey for a sizzling seven-under 65 during the Philippine Open pro-am event yesterday.

Canadian Rick Gibson, the 2002 champ, and Bangladeshi Siddikur, current No. 2 in the Asian Tour Order of Merit, lead the formidable foreign cast.

Other top names are 2010 Asia Tour Rookie of the Year Rikard Karlberg of Sweden, South African Peter Karmis, Australian Darren Beck, Malaysians Ben Leong and Danny Chia and Thai stars Udorn Duengdecha, Pariya Junhasavasdikul, Chapchai Nirat and Chinnarat Phadungsil.

Organizers and the players expect an exciting battle especially with the course made longer by the recent Typhoon Bebeng.

“We used to play this course hitting lots of irons. It’s totally different now,” said Que. “It’s going to be exciting. Expect to see bunches atop the standings.”

Que tees off with Siddikur and Karlberg at 12:15 p.m. on No. 1; Murakami is bunched with American Ben Fox and Thai Namchok Tantipokhakul in the 11:45 a.m. flight on No. 1 while Pagunsan is grouped with veteran Zaw Moe of Myanmar and another Thai Piya Swangarunporn in the 7:50 a.m. flight on No. 10.

Focus will also be on Frankie Miñoza, who ended a long Open drought in 1998 at Riviera and repeated the feat here at WW in 2007. The 51-year-old ace Filipino shotmaker, now campaigning in the US Seniors Tour, is trying to become the third player to win the fabled event three times.

He is paired with Australian Tim Stewart and Thai Thammanoon Sriroj at 11:55 a.m. on No. 10 following the other featured flight of Tabuena, Berry Henson of the US and Brazilian Lucas Lee.

The other backers of the tournament, held under the auspices of the National Golf Association, are San Miguel Corp., Globe Telecom, Lexus, HSBC, Splash Corporation and Ayala Land Premier with Srixon, Ricoh, BlackBerry, Inetol, Motorola, Label 5 and Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria as supporters.