Fil-Am regular event tees off today

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — Some 700 players, representing the country’s leading golf clubs, tee off today to start their bids for the Fil and Am championship trophies in the 70th Fil-Am Invitational Golf Tournament at the Camp John Hay and Baguio Country Club courses.

Fil-Am co-chair Tim Allen of John Hay and Anthony de Leon of BCC foresee fierce battles in the country’s biggest, oldest inter-club tourney.

“We will have another exciting week of golf and with the good weather, we expect happy players every after playing date,” said De Leon.

Much attention will be on the Fil and Am battles. Defending champion Manila Southwoods banners the field, with its bid to be spearheaded by 15-year-old Sean Ramos, who helped Team Philippines to a bronze finish in the just concluded Southeast Asian Games golf event at Luisita in Tarlac.

Out to foil the Carmona, Cavite team’s aspiration is one-time winner Forest Hills. Royal Northwoods and Team Time Cargo Logistics complete the cast in the top flight.

Southwoods also leads the Am Championship flight, going for a title repeat against Islander Mizuno, Forest Hills and Batangas Barakos.

Fil-A will have eight teams with X1R Mizuno, Silicon Valley Golfers Link I, Che Lus I, E. Sparta, Team Surigao I, Uragun Golf, Tsikoy and Club Salami.

Am A will have seven teams: Leeward Fil-Am, Phil. Navy Sunrisers, Benlife Producers Bank Liloan, Greenwater Golfers, Sultan Kudarat Miners, Bulakenyos 2.0 and Mabalacat City/ JA Global.

Fil B will have co-host BCC, Central Florida, Fil-Am Japan, Venturelink-Robros-Jayworx Golf Team, Summit Point Golf and Country Club, Cool Jocks, Team Brookside and Rural Bankers II.

Am B will have Benlife Villa Cacho, Crown Legacy, Srixon IMG, Camp John Hay Manor, Team City of Vallejo, X1R Mizuno, TGIS Davao and Kiss Juice Apple.

It will be a full house Fil C with 12 teams namely Batch 92 GC, Fil-Am League of Golfers Chicago, Dugong Bughaw, PhilCan Torotno, Royal Northwoods – El Masfino, GMJ 2005 Const & Dev’t Corp., GOC Kuyangs, Fil-Golfers of New York, Ultraflite GC I, Che Lus II, Filgolfers of Hawaii and Mountaineers GT 1.

Am C will also have the same number of competing clubs, including Team Toyota, Green Jacket GC, Mountaineers GT II, CJH, BCC, Benlife GT, Silicon Valley Gilfers Link II, Team Surigao Ulopan, Filgolfers of Honolulu, Waterlympics Clark, Monterey and Tiyo Paeng Golfers of Davao.