Expect golf on full swing under new leadership

MANILA, Philippines — New National Golf Association of the Philippines president Martin Lorenzo yesterday vowed to steer Philippine golf to new heights with emphasis on providing the amateurs more international exposure and bringing back the country’s lost glory in the international arena.

“The first order of the day is to bring NGAP to even greater heights. Whatever gains it achieved the last few years, we will take off from there and take it to the next level,” said Lorenzo of Luisita Golf and Country Club.

Lorenzo garnered the second highest number of votes among the 18 candidates during the NGAP Annual Council Meeting and biennial elections at the Navy Golf Club last Tuesday. The 11-man board later named him as the new NGAP head.

Kit Angeles of Eastridge topped the polls with 71 votes with Lorenzo placing second with 67 and Joe Dagdagan of Anvaya drawing 33 votes and edging Orchard’s Conrad Benitez by one for the last spot in the board.

Joining them in the new NGAP board are Aurelio Montinola (chairman) of Manila Golf, Jose Iñigo (vice president) of Riviera, Al Panlilio (treasurer), also of Luisita, Jun Galindez (auditor) of Alabang, and members Jose Amado Angeles, Jose Dagdagan, Rolando Romero of Aguinaldo, Rodolfo Angus of Navy, and Shin Paul Chan of Sherwood Hills and outgoing president Caloy Coscolluela of Alabang. 

“There’s so much potential in golf. I believe that what’s lacking with our amateurs is exposure in competitions both local and international. With the right funding and employing the right coaches, we can get back lost glory,” Lorenzo said.