MANILA, Philippines - The first National Doubles Amateur Championship unwraps today with no less than a strong start expected from members of the national pool as well as from the top players of the country’s leading clubs at the AFP Golf Club (formerly Aguinaldo Golf Club).
But emphasis will be on team play with reigning national champion and junior titlist Rupert Zaragosa teaming up with Justin Quilban of the National Golf Association of the Phils. development pool and fancied Jobim Carlos linking up with fellow jungolfer Raymund Gonzales.
Entries will still be accepted before the 8 a.m. tee-off, according to the organizing NGAP.
Focus will also be on the Don Petil-Victor Pardillo pair with the latter hoping to flash his familiarity with the short but tough layout he calls home. Other tandems vying in the Group I category are JP De Claro-Eric Gallardo, Joey Huerva-Lawrence Celestino, AR Ramos-Jama Reyes, Andres Saldaña-Keanu Jahns, and Art-Arbole-Gabriel Manotoc.
Ranking points are also up for grabs in the 54-hole tournament conducted by the NGAP in its continuing effort to raise the level of play in the ranks. Play will be foursomes (alternate shot) in the first day and four-balls (best-ball) in the second round. The final round will have the combined aggregate of the team.
Others seeing action in the event to be played under the foursome, four-ball and aggregate format are Eastridge’s Aristeo Mata and Agustin Mata, Villamor’s Julius Pactolerin and Nilo Salahug and Forest Hills’ Iñigo Raymundo and Jonar Austria.
Competition is also tipped to go down-to-the-wire in Group II (minimum handicap of 5.1), and Group III (mid-amateur, 40 years old) and ladies division.
Jungolfers Kristoffer Arevalo and partner Kevin Saclot head the Group II cast that also includes RJ Tan and Justin Tan, Paolo Uy and Lans Uy and Raymart Tolentino of Valley Golf and Adrian Romero while the Richard Tan-Lino Magpantay and Larry Patnongon-Joey Solis tandems banner the field in Group II.
Miya Legaspi, only the third player to score five consecutive victories in the US Kids World Golf Championships, leads the chase in the ladies side along with Daniella Uy and Marvi Monsalve.
Group I is exclusive for members of the national team which represented the country in the last SEA Games, the Putra Cup, the Lion City Cup and the World Amateurs.
The event also serves as tune-up for the 2012 Philippine Amateur Open Golf Championships slated Jan. 5-8 at the Canlubang Golf and Country Club in Laguna which features a slew of foreign players.