Sta. Lucia golf tour tomorrow

Twenty-six five-man teams representing five different golf clubs all over the country which are operating under the same umbrella launch their respective bids tomorrow in the Sta. Lucia Golf Tour 2000 kicking off at the Palmer course of the Orchard Golf and Country Club in Dasmariñas, Cavite.

The 130-player field for the Sta. Lucia Tour, the real estate giant’s most ambitious project outside building golf courses and residential estates, will vie for team and individual prizes in a three-month series that will go around five courses.

"All seats are taken, we’re ready for a grand take-off," said Vicente Santos, chair of the executive committee.

Santos will hit the ceremonial drives together with vice-chair Engr. Winnie Gob and representatives of Sta. Lucia’s joint venture partners Eagle Ridge (Tommy Alcantara), Orchard (Conrad Benitez) and Alta Vista-Cebu (Matias Aznar III).

Orchard, Eagle Ridge, Alta Vista (Cebu) will have four teams each while Tagaytay Royale and Rancho Palos Verdes (Davao) will have one apiece.

From the Palmer course which earned worldwide attention when it hosted the Johnnie Walker Classic in 1996, the field moves over to the Player course of Orchard to complete the first of three 36-hole legs that will determine the first-ever winner of the Sta. Lucia Cup.

At stake in the first leg are merchandise prizes for the winners and a separate raffle bonanza of appliances and golf items.