A power-packed cast of champion golfers, including Chinese Taipei’s Lu Wei-chih and Japanese pro Tetsuji Hiratsuka are expected to grace the Asian Tour’s ICTSI Philippine Open staged at the East Course of Wack-Wack Golf and Country Club on February 9-12.

Serving as the second leg of the 2012 Asian Tour, Philippine Open are expecting various golf talents from different countries around the world to grace the said tournament, among which are Lu, who is a Mecuries Taiwan Masters and Yeangder Tournament Players Championship two-time winner, and Hiratsuka who is vying for his fifth Asian Tour victory this year.

The two players will be part of a group of nine players who were able to make it to Asia’s elite circuit last season, dethroning the then reigning Phil Open champion Berry Henson of the United States.

The new season of Asian Tour starts next week, with the first leg to be held at Myanmar. Meanwhile, the ICTSI Philippine Open will be broadcast live in over 200 countries through the Asian Tour’s global television platform.

The tournament’s participation fee is P2,500.00, inclusive of green fee, use of golf cart and lunch. Shotgun tee off will be at 7:30 am. GolfPh card members can either join in the fun or have the option to sponsor. For further questions, contact Ms. Adette De la Paz from the DSAPI office via tel nos. +63 2 895-3606 or +63 2 8959642.

Proving the local golf scene on why such a title – the No. 1 in Asia – is befitting for him, hotshot player Juvic Pagunsan brought home the coveted TCC Invitational crown last weekend. Edging out tough competitors, primarily Elmer Salvador who was nearly there, the also Players’ Player of the Year awardee turned each push into a shove, when it truly mattered.

With a total score of 277 (for the 72-hole challenging course in The Country Club), Pagunsan’s iron shots showed how his golfing skill level brought out the beast in him. A birdie at the 13th and 15th hole turned out as a final nail in the coffin, for all of the other players hoping to catch up to his score. Salvador’s effective shots unfortunately fell short, yet he did show players and golf aficionados a trick or two. His birdie on the 6th hole – which was at 15 feet – can very well be part of a highlight reel.

The Country Club TCC Invitational also featured local key players of the Philippine golfing scene. Angelo Que, who was the former cup holder, was supposed to go for a three-peat title. Seen also at the greens were Artemio Murakami, Carl Santos-Ocampo, Cassius Casas and Rufino Bayron.

Former President Fidel V. Ramos and Asian Tour No. 1 Juvic Pagunsan initiated the ceremonial drives for the 28^th Mango Tee last Saturday, which formally opened the member-guest golf tournament hosted by the Alabang Country Club.

FVR, who is considered as the most notable golf club member and Pagunsan who is the current Asian Tour Order of Merit champ, were joined by the different corporate sponsors of the said event, namely, ACCI chair Bobby Atendido, Pilipinas Shell president Ed Chua, Pancake House Group head Martin Lorenzo and Mitsubishi Motor Phils.Corp. president Hikosaburo Shibata.

The event kicks off today with a total of 768 golfers all competing for honors and various prize packages worth more than P5 million. These also include four premium cars from Mitsubishi Motors Philippines, Inc, three golf carts sponsored by Club Car, Yamaha and Texas Eagle as well as a brand new golf set given by Mizuno/Tour Master.

Aside from that, there will also be cocktails every night with special raffle prizes for everyone who will play in both the morning tee-off (6:15am) and also for the afternoon tee-off (12:15pm).

A golf battle of epic proportions is expected to be seen at The Country Club Invitational in Laguna this coming Thursday, as tourney favorite Angelo Que hopes to win his third crown from the yearly challenging local golf championship. Being the only holder of a back-to-back win in the prestigious tournament, Que hopes that luck will shine his way in the championship.

Que may have to fight his way this year, with an impressive line-up of talent against him and hoping to foil his race to the crown. A top contender that he’ll be facing is no other than holder of the Order of Merit, winner of the Players’ Player of the Year Award, and Asia’s No. 1 Juvic Pagunsan, who’ll be doing all he can to show why he deserves such a title.  Frankie Minoza, local golf’s living legend is also set to show his tried and tested vintage form, which can turn the field into a topsy-turvy fray. Out for a vengeance is Artemio Murakami, 2009 winner who has slowly but surely started to heat up during the latter part of last year.

The Country Club Invitational is already at its 10th year. Selected 36 players are to battle it out for the prized crown, with total prize funds ranging up to 4.5 million pesos.

Swinging her way out of a league of impressive challengers, Lee Jeong Hwa’s skill ultimately took home the 50th Philippine Ladies Open crown.  The 17-year-old wonder from Busan, Korea overcame equally outstanding plays of Princess Superal, Lovelynn Guioguio and former champion Jayvie Agojo in an exciting tourney of immense proportions.

The premier gathering of lady golfers in the country, which was held at the Wack-Wack East course, was of a dramatic showdown. “Unpredictable” could very well sum up the events, with talents such as Sunshine Baraquiel, Andie Unson, Bianca Pagdanganan; and Thai participants Yupaporn Kawinpakorn and Supamas Sangchan all caught up in a whirlwind race for the win. Incidentally, mainly because of the wind and weather conditions, not one player can set a proper foothold on getting a safe and leading score.

Lee’s closest threat for the crown was the also the newest addition to the talent-laden ICTSI golf team, Princess Suparal. The 14-year old golfer showed grace in her form, only falling behind because of key par putts made by the Korean champion.

Lee’s win has spurred her desire to turn pro. She has recently cited her intentions to join the upcoming Korean Tour. Her Philippine Ladies Open win has also officially made her as the first Korean to win the country’s prestige female golfing tournament.

Tee off for a cause as the 20th Br. Alphosus Bloemen Golf Cup (formerly known as Drive for a Cause) is finally staged at the Forest Hills Golf and Country Club in Antipolo City on January 30, 2012.

Hole- in- one prizes for the tournament include a Tucson SUV from Hyundai Marcos Highway, a Vespa Scooter from the Autohub Group, a golf cart from Club Car Phils., and also P100,000 cash from PAGCOR.

This event marks the start of an eight-leg series of golf tournaments hosted by various La Salle Alumni Associations, dubbed as the 2012 Animo Golf Tour. There will also be trophies and P300,000 worth of raffle prizes that will be given away to winners in the annual fund raising campaign of the alumni association.

Registration is now ongoing with an entrance fee pegged at P3,000, already inclusive of the green fee, use of golf cart, lunch buffet, giveaways as well as mulligans. For more inquiries, you may call Ludie Bautista or Sol Mendoza at 721-2729, 726-6339 or 722-7750.

Showing and giving much needed support for budding golfers in the country, gigantic Globe Telecoms has recently signed an agreement with the National Golf Association of the Philippines (NGAP) in producing more and high-quality amateur tourneys this year.

Spearheading the agreement are Philip Ella Juico (The National Golf Association of the Philippines’ concurrent head of the private sector for golf development), Jesus Romero (business head of Globe Telecoms), and NGAP representatives Tommy Manotoc and Jun Arceo.

The impressive merger of the two momentous groups had shown a textbook example of a group from the private sector helping out sports organizations. Globe Telecoms has been an avid supporter of the local golf scene, particularly in the amateur division, with the most recent involvement in the Philippine Amateur Open (won by Filipino-Singaporean, Gregory Foo and Lovelyn Guioguio).

The National Golf Association of the Philippines and Globe Telecoms’ agreement hopes to create and develop boys’ and girls’ match play championships. Visayas and Mindanaop regional championships, as well a myriad of other championships are also being planned. Globe Telecoms support for junior golf programs also aims to develop and create opportunities for golfers at the grassroots level, and as well create an even greater sense of awareness – and appreciation – of the game and the greens.

Starting the year with an exciting blast, junior golfer extraordinaire John Lester “The Rocket” Lagman has once again showed the local golf scene on how much sport talent he has. His latest win, the championship crown in the 2012 ICTSI-Inter-School Finals midgets’ 1 individual division, which was held at the Orchard Golf and Country Club in Dasmarinas, Cavite, has only proved that he has a bright future in the greens, and that the youth in the country is experiencing a surge in golf talent.

Lagman’s progress in the sport has been noticeably exciting, starting with his bronze medal win in the 10th Sutera Harbour Junior Amateur Open late last year (Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia). The dramatic win of the golfer showed that age – and mishap, for he was hit by a ball during the Malaysia stint – and skill are no match for perseverance. His 3rd place win allowed the Philippines to enjoy owning a medal in the hazardous event.

Lagman’s foray in the world of golf, particularly during this year, would include the Scottish Junior Golf Tournament, US Kids Qualifying Tour and the Junior World Qualifying Tour. The Rocket also owes his success to his lineage – he is the son of champion golfer Jon-Jon Lagman, 2-time Echiverri Golf Cup champion.

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