15th Orchard Founders golf under way

MANILA, Philippines - The first batch of a fully-loaded field of 800 players troop to the two championship courses of the Orchard Golf and Country Club in Dasmariñas, Cavite today for the prestigious 15th Founders Cup member-guest golf tournament.

Presented by Coca-Cola, the tourney offers prizes totaling at least P5 million including a 2012 Mercedes-Benz C180 Classic and Hyundai Tucson Theta II GLS 2WD A/T at stake as hole-in-one prizes on designated holes at the Player and Palmer courses of Orchard, respectively.

The first group gets going at 6 a.m. and the second at 12:15 p.m. to kick off the chase for the low net and low gross plums and the top awards in four different groups based on handicap averages. Jojo Ferrer and Alejandro Palines Jr. will defend the low net plum and brothers Paul and Dan Salvador will aim for a back-to-back low gross romp.

The organizing team of the Orchard Founders Cup backed by PLDT, Philippine Airlines, Banco de Oro VISA/CLG Acquiring, Mizuno, Sta. Lucia Realty, Kulinarya Global Corporation, CATS Motors/Mercedes-Benz and Hyundai Dasmariñas as major sponsors, has assembled an attractive package of prizes befitting the country’s grandest member-guest event.

Among the top raffle prizes are two PAL Business Class tickets to the US West Coast and Asiana Airlines Economy tickets for two to the West Coast, New York or London plus gadgets, golf gear and appliances.

Premium hole sponsors are Air21, Asiana Airlines, Security Bank Corporation, Orchard Property Marketing Corporation and The Turf Company. Hole sponsors are Ayala Land Corp., Beneficial Life, Cross-link Electric & Construction Corp., EMR General Services Specialist, GG&A Club Shares, Globe Telecom, ICTSI, MNM Trading Corp., Nishino Leather Industry, Pagcor, Perry’s Group, PPI Prime Ventures, Shakey’s Pizza, Tri Maritime Corporation, Vice Mayor Louie Bustamante of the Municipality of Las Piñas City, Yellow Cab Co., Allied Botanical Corp., Allo! Malongo, Arch. Montealegre & Associates Co., Dynamic Sports (Titleist), Emeritus Security & Maintenance System, F.D. Nolasco Enterprise, Great Depot (PING), Information Professionals, International Heavy Equipment Corporation, John Gil Catering, Joseph Server & Associates, J-Ten Sports (Callaway), Pacsports Philippines Inc., Philippine Charter Insurance, SAP Build Enterprise, SLB Trading & Pump Specialists, Trends & Technologies Inc., and Western Sales Trading Co.

While the first batch plays Thursday and Saturday, the second batch take their turn Friday and Sunday.