ICTSI Caliraya tees off

MANILA, Philippines — After a strong start in the Philippine Golf Tour, Guido van der Valk is ready to slug it out with the country’s top pros and rising stars and a host of foreign players in the ICTSI Caliraya Springs Championship slated April 9-12 in Cavinti, Laguna.

The Dutchman had runner-up finishes at both the Apo Golf Classic and the Rancho Palos Verdes Championship to position himself as one of the contenders in the upcoming P2.5 million tournament at Cavinti Springs Golf Club.

Despite a 12th-place finish in the ICTSI-sponsored event last year, Van der Valk has made a significant impact in 2024, winning the PGT’s flagship tournament, The Country Club Invitational, for the second consecutive year.

While he came up short in Apo, yielding the crown to Jhonnel Ababa via playoff, and finishing four strokes behind Lloyd Go at Palos Verdes, Van der Valk is optimistic about his chances against a formidable field, including defending champion Tony Lascuña.

The competition is intensified with the presence of top players like Ababa, Angelo Que, Clyde Mondilla, Reymon Jaraula and Michael Bibat.