National doubles amateur up at Aguinaldo December 27-29

MANILA, Philippines - The fifth National Doubles Amateur Golf Championship gets going Dec. 27-29 with another huge field expected to vie for top honors in the National Golf Association of the Philippines’ final event for the season at Camp Aguinaldo Golf Club.

Former champion Jobim Carlos taps a new partner in Iñigo Raymundo as he shoots for a victory in what could serve as his last tournament as an amateur. The former University of San Francisco standout made the grade in the recent Philippine Golf Tour Qualifying School and is expected to join the pro ranks next year.

But Carlos and Raymundo will be in a for a tough outing with former pro Eddie Bagtas hoping to bring his winning touch to the Aguinaldo layout after steering the San Miguel-Northern Cement seniors and regular teams to victory in the recent Fil-Am Golf Invitational in Baguio.

Bagtas will team up with Jolo Magcalayo in the 54-hole tournament held under the PLDT Group National Amateur Golf Tour and sponsored by the MVP Sports Foundation, Smart, PLDT and Metro Pacific Investment Corp.

Two-time winners Rupert Zaragosa and Jan Philippe De Claro are also expected to join the event along with former champions Miggy Yee and AR Ramos.

Other tandems confirmed to participate are Harry Syles-Jan Vincent Tandinga, Adrian Romero-Kevin Saclot, Luis Castro-Carlo Gatmaytan, Jeff Razon-Chester Calpotura, Matthew Abalos-Don Pretil, Justin Quiban-Miguel Shah, Marco Olives-Jonar Austria, Rocky Brobio-Rodolfo Brobio, Rald Sarmiento-Masa Otake, Aldo Barro-Ivan Monsalve, Jama Reyes-Tom Kim and Jonas Magcalayo-Paolo Uy.

Paqo Barro-Joseph Orbito and Aidric Chan-Ira Alido.

Harmie Constantino and Jona Magcalayo, meanwhile, head the ladies cast, which includes the Kristine Torralba-Ashia Nocum pair, the Jere Fregil-Cielo Fregil tandem, Regina de Guzman-Cassy Isagawa, and Laia Barro-Bela Maravite,

The field will slug it out under the four-ball (best-ball) format in the first round with action shifting to aggregate in the next before the two-ball foursome in the final round, according to the organizing NGAP.