152 teams see action in S'woods golf

A star-studded field of 152 teams composed of leading businessmen and top executives is competing in the Manila Southwoods The Millennium Invitational golf tournament Friday and Saturday.

Manila Southwoods Golf and Country Club chairman Robert John L. Sobrepeña and partner Boying Remulla, head of the Presidential Management Staff of Malacañang, lead the field.

Other notables are Mitsubishi Motors Philippines executive Mel Dizon and Bulletin sports editor Ding Marcelo, Butch Campos of La Paz Investment and Ernesto Lim, George Blaylock of Diamond Motors and Raul Marcelo;

Nicklaus Golf Design head John Cope and Sta. Elena course superintendent Tim Walker, Florene de los Santos and Joe Marie Hechanova and noted architect Ruben Payumo and nationally renown heart specialist Carlo Santos Ocampo, Emy Arcilla and Greg Atienza.

"On behalf of the Manila Southwoods board, I would like to express my gratitude to my fellow members and our guests for coming to play.

"Above all, I would also like to thank our major sponsors as well as other supporters for making this tournament a success year after year."

"The big turnout is a manifestation that the Manila Southwoods The Millennium Invitational is one of our major club events," said Freddie Mendoza, chairman of the organizing Sports and Games committee.

Mitsubishi Motors Philippines, Diamond Motors Corporation and College Assurance Plan are the major sponsors. Venues are the Masters and Legends courses.

"We have lined up many handsome prizes for the winners. And we will have a Mitsubishi Lancer GSR as a special prize for a hole-in-one," Mendoza said.

"In the event no player scores an ace either in the Masters or Legends, the Lancer will be the major raffle prize during the awards ceremony," Mendoza said.

And to start the ball rolling, the organizing committee will hold a cocktail party at 6 p.m. today at the Masters Clubhouse for all the participants and special guests.

"This cocktail party should gather us in one room to exchange toasts and niceties before we start out-driving and outplaying each other at the Masters and the Legends courses," Mendoza added.