Amo's legacy

There were many who came to 70th birth anniversary celebration of the late golf patron Albino D. Gothong as the 3rd Amo Cup was held in his honor at the Alta Vista Golf and Country Club.

Those who have been playing golf since the 1990s know him very well as the man, who raised the standards of tournaments in Cebu by putting together what could be the biggest amateur event here, the Filipino-Chinese Friendship Tournament.

That event had great giveaways and minor raffle prizes that somehow resulted to very spoiled Cebuano golfers, who became picky about events that they would join.

More than that, the tournaments also showcased what Cebu had to offer for the sport of golf.

Amo, as he was fondly called, always wanted the best in the tournaments that he was part of.

After the financial crisis in 1997, the Friendship Tournament also faded, but this did not mean that Amo stopped organizing tournaments with the committee that also became like his extended family.

There were events in other golf clubs and eventually, the group, which I became part of, also formed the core of the tournament committee of AVGCC.

It is tough to maintain the standards that Amo had set, but the group always tries its best to continue his legacy by organizing tournaments that the players would enjoy even if they don’t go home with trophies.

To those who supported the 3rd Amo Cup, thank you for helping us keep alive the legacy of the man.

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There is also a golf tournament set this weekend at the Club Filipino Incorporada de Cebu course in Danao City.

This will be a team event, but I don’t have the complete details.

Those interested to join can call the club for more information.

Next week, the 3rd Y101 Corporate Cup is also set at Cebu Country Club and if you are not fast enough, you might not get to play.

Entry fee is only P10,000 for every four-man team. Like in the past, this will still be a four-to-play, three-to-count event.

The Business in Golf event is also set later this month making June one of the busiest for the Cebuano golf community.

The BiG is one of the highlights of the Cebu Business Month celebration.

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MILESTONES: Belated birthday greetings to Karen Villaluz and Ivy Cañedo, who both turned a year older last Monday.

Belated greetings also to Carlu Barba-Overhill, Henry yap, Gloria Gapas, Y101’s Martha ‘Mama Cash’ Tuason, Ruel Aballe, Jesse Gallenero, and my wife’s niece Karen Reyes Barns, who all turned a year older yesterday.

Today’s greetings go to Renan Dalisay and Sandy Chiongbian-Masangkay, who are celebrating today.

Also congratulations to the Celtics fans as I have a feeling the team will go 2-1 today hehehe…

More power to all of you! – THE FREEMAN