2010 Aboitiz Invitational: Geralde's team tops pro-am event

CEBU, Philippines - Randy Garalde and his team bagged the title in the pro-am event of the 2010 Aboitiz Invitational played yesterday at the Cebu Country Club as a tune-up to the 54-hole tournament that tees off today at the Cebu Country Club.

Garalde and teammates Robin Craze, Nelson Yuvallos and Vince Colina fired 19-under-par 53 strokes to win the crown.

Each pro was paired with three amateurs. The best score for each hole, less the stroke or strokes for the amateurs, is recorded as the team’s score.

Garalde and Colina told The Freeman that it was Craze, who really delivered for the team.

Second place went to the team of Artemio Murakami with 55 strokes, edging two others in the tie break. Murakami was paired with Ramontito Garcia, Arlo Sarmiento and Bernard Cholo.

Second runner-up honors went to the group of Ramil Bisera, Ryan Abdon, Nestor Sevilla and singer Boboy Garovillo also with 55.

The team that was eased out of the top three was that of Ferdinand Aunzo, Alex Villareal, Rommel Rosales, and Renato Villareal.

Close to a hundred professionals will see action in the tournament, which runs until Friday.

Among the big names of Philippine golf that are participating are Frankie Miñoza, recent Asian Tour winner Angelo Que, and Juvic Pagunsan.

The top prize is P200,000 of the total pot of P1 million.

This is part of the Philippine Golf Tour backed by International Container Services Inc. and run by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments.

Goklf enthusiasts are expected to gather at the Cebu Country Club for the next three days to watch the action.

Que, is one of the most popular in the field having won the 2010 Worldwide Holdings Selangor Masters in Malaysia over the weekend beating England’s Chris Rodgers in the playoffs.

Miñoza, who is a regular visitor to Cebu, is also one of the big stars to watch and is expected to draw one of the bigger galleries along with Pagunsan, who also has many friends from Cebu. – THE FREEMAN