Cangolf Am unfolds; focus on Zaragosa

MANILA, Philippines - The Petron-14th Canlubang Amateur Open championship gets under way today with Rupert Zaragosa heading the title chase in the men’s division along with a slew of Korean expats at the North and South courses of the Canlubang golf complex in Laguna.

Zaragosa, the reigning boy’s and men’s amateur champion, takes another crack at one of the tournaments that has eluded him so far even as the core of the crack ICTSI stable sees action in the women’s division.

The South course will be the venue for the 54-hole men’s event with Zaragosa contending against the likes of Andres Saldana and Gabriel Manotoc for the Open championship crown.

A slew of Korean expats are also entered in the men’s side, hoping to duplicate Eagle Ridge’s Kim In Jae’s feat last year in the event, which, like the women’s side, serves as the qualifying tournament for next week’s Philippine Amateur Match Play championship of the National Golf Association of the Philippines.

The top 16 men and the top eight women will advance to the match play proper beginning Monday. The event is part of the PLDT Amateur Golf Tour presented by the MVP Sports Foundation.

Former world junior champion Bernice Olivares-Ilas and Mikhaela Fortuna banner the women’s field together with ICTSI teammates Abegail Arevalo and Sophia Chabon.