230 teams vie in 67th Fil-Am

MANILA, Philippines - The largest gathering of amateur golfers from all over the Pacific takes center stage as the Baguio Country Club and Camp John Hay fairways host 230 teams in the 67th edition of the Fil-Am Invitational Golf Tournament.    

Competition starts Nov. 23 in what organizers claim to be the toughest two-week tourney presented by San Miguel with more than 1,200 amateur players from the Philippines, Korea, Japan, Australia and the US joining the world’s biggest amateur golf event.

“This will be a tough Fil-Am golf just like last year,” said Camp John Hay Golf Club manager Tim Allen.

Both BCC and CJH are working double time to repair some of the minor damages wrought by Typhoons Karen and Lawin on the the two layouts for the coming team championships.

“Although the clearing is ongoing, the course is in perfect shape,” BCC spokesperson Andrew Pinero said.   

San Miguel-Northern Cement II returns as the favorite in the Fil-Championship regular division and is expected to go all out against multi-titled Manila Southwoods that will also defend the Am-Championship crown.

The former Fil-Championship seniors champ Pugo Adventure, meanwhile, is raring to get back at the title it lost to San Miguel-Northern Cement in a dramatic finish last year.

Competitions for the first week will be on the lower regular flight of F, G and H and the seniors side while the higher flights including the championship division will see action in the second week. The Fil-Am golf is also backed by Toyota, Petron, Magnolia, SMC Global Power, Northern Cement, San Miguel Lifestyle Brews, Manor at Camp John Hay, Forest Lodge, Empire, CJH Development Corporation, Baguio Country Club, Le Chef, and the CJH Trade and Cultural Center.