Visayas regional Am unfolds today

MANILA, Philippines - Gen Nagai, the Japanese teener from Cebu, and Lois Kaye Go spearhead the list of entries in the men’s and ladies’ Open divisions, respectively, of the NGAP’s Visayas Regional Amateur championship presented by the MVP Sports Foundation starting today at Binitin in Murcia town.

The 16-year-old Nagai, whose family has been in Cebu for the last 13 years, is the odds-on pick in the men’s division as he guns for the biggest individual victory of his career in the event that is also part of the PLDT Group Amateur Tour.

Both Open divisions will be played over 54 holes even as trophies in several age-brackets and in the Mid-Am level are also up for grabs in the event organized by the National Golf Association of the Philippines and backed by Pancake House, Golf Depot and Pacsports.

Nagai has helped Cebu Country Club win the Philippine Airlines Interclub championship the last two years, teaming up with the likes of Eric Deen, Mark Dy, former pro Carl Almario and Lloyd Jefferson Go.

Lois Kaye Go is LJ’s younger sister, and she has also been toughened up by stints for Cebu CC in the revived Ladies Interclub where the Cebuanos finished second to Manila Southwoods last month in Davao.

Tomorrow (Friday), the NGAP also starts its grassroots development program in the region where more than 100 kids, most of them under-privileged, will be handled by renowned swing coaches Carito Villaroman, Ramon Brobio and Boyet Zaragosa.

The clinic will last for two days with the three NGAP coaches to get assistance from local teachers in Bacolod in the program that is part of the NGAP’s tie up with world governing body Royal & Ancient of Scotland, which is helping fund the activity.