Phl golfers face acid tests

HONG KONG – Finding itself as spearhead of the three-team contingent, the national junior squad hopes to live up to the hype and deliver the goods right in the opening round of the 51st Southeast Asia Amateur Golf Team Championships today at the Clearwater Bay Golf and Country Club here.

Rupert Zaragoza, a rare winner of this year’s national junior and men’s championships, carries the Philippines’ hopes on his tiny shoulders as the youthful golfers, who include former national champion Clyde Mondilla, Andres Saldana and Gio Gandionco, seek to defend the Lion City Cup crown they won over Thailand in Malaysia last year.

“We have high hopes for these three teams. Each is a combination of youth and experience and we expect them to press their bid right in the opening round,” said National Golf Association of the Phl president Leandro Mendoza, referring to the Putra Cup and Santi Cup teams.

But the Thais have also put up a formidable Lion City Cup squad headed by this year’s Vietnam Amateur Open champion Chanchok Dejpiratanamongkol, 2010 Thailand Junior winner Pariwat Pinsawat, Aussarassakorn Voramate and Somprad Rattansuwan as they try to complete what they had failed to do the last time out – sweep the three titles after romping off with the Putra Cup and the Santi Cup diadems.

So serious is Thailand this year that it tapped American Gerry Norquist, a five-time winner on the Asian Tour and veteran of Japan and European circuits, to handle the three squads.

The men’s team, on the other hand, sets out as an underdog in the Putra Cup but Zanie Boy Gialon, Art Arbole, John Kier Abdon and LJ Go are out to prove their worth and end the country’s 15-year title drought in the centerpiece event.

The Filipinos used to lord it over the field in the Putra Cup but have not won since 1996 in Myanmar.

Thailand is out to extend its reign behind Attachia Jaichalan, fourth placer in last year’s Asian Games individual competition, Natipong Srithong, last year’s winner of the Thai Junior Open, Nattawat Suvajanakorn, the 2010 Asia Pacific Junior champion, and Rattanon Wannasrichan, runner up in this year’s Montecillo Cup at Mt. Malarayat.

The Filipinos are also raring to redeem themselves in the two other events, especially in the ladies side (Santi Cup) with reigning Queen Sirikit Cup individual winner Dottie Ardina, reigning Philippine Ladies Open champion Chihiro Ikeda, Andie Unson and Jayvie Agojo forming what could be the strongest lineup ever in international play.

“They’re ready. They liked the course, it’s short but tough with premium on accuracy,” said Bong Lopez, coach of the ICTSI-backed ladies squad.

The other coaches are Carito Villaroman (men’s) and Boyet Zaragoza (juniors) with Tommy Manotoc, the man at helm of NGAP’s golf development program, as head of delegation.

“Our chance without our top players Marcel Puyat and Jobim Carlos is slim but the boys are in very good spirit and ready to play. They love the golf course and are in very good shape. The Thais are always the team to beat,” said Villaroman.

“Thailand is always solid in team play, but we hope to pull off some surprises,” said Lopez. “But the team must hit it straight off the tee and must putt well since the greens are very tricky.”

Though short by the field’s standard, the par-70 cliff-top course on the tip of the Clearwater Bay Peninsula is expected to provide a different kind of challenge, especially for the long hitters as it requires accuracy with the par-3s featuring tiny, undulating greens.

The Thai ladies will be led by Pavarisa Yoktuan, Pinrath Loomboonruang, Wad Phaewchimpee and Panitta Yusabai while Malaysia also seeks to crowd the two fancied teams behind Isza Fariza Ismail, Nur Durriyah Damiah, Vivienne Chin and Hillferah Tan.

Yoktuan is a former Thai Junior Open and Asia Pacific champion; Loomboonruang, like Ardina, is a former Junior World champion and winner of the 2008 Thai Ladies Amateur; Phaewchimpee is last year’s National Youth Games winner, while Yusabai placed fifth in this year’s Philippine Amateurs won by Unson.

Also in the fold are Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Myanmar and Cambodia, the SEA Games protagonists in Indonesia in November, with Hong Kong out to flash its familiarity with the layout and contend for the titles at stake.