Konica U-Bix Open unfolds

A venue reeling from the fury of Typhoon Seniang and a starting field quenching for the return of big-time pro golf will be in focus as the fourth Konica U-Bix Manila Open starts today at the Wack Wack East course.

The country’s touring pros who have been without a tournament since the Philippine Masters last May won by Cassius Casas will see action in the event offering a total money purse of P1 million. The winner will earn P200,000; runner-up P100,000; and third placer P50,000 while a 2001 Mitsubishi Lancer GLX M/T will be at stake for a hole-in-one feat on the par 3 No. 16.

Bert Bravo, U-Bix president, inspected the East Course together with Salvador Malbarosa, general manager of Wack Wack Golf and Country Club immediately after typhoon Seniang pounded the place last Friday and heaved a sigh of relief when the damage turned out to be minimal.

"The tournament is definitely on," said Bravo, upon seeing how the club has restored the East Course to its competitive form.

Typhoon Seniang left the place with a few uprooted trees and soggy ground but the crew of Malbarosa has worked non-stop to make it ready for the tournament.

"I am confident that our pros will find the East Course a real challenge. I can truly say that it is one of our best golf courses in Metro Manila," Bravo said.

Ernie Rellon, champion of the first Konica U-Bix Manila Open, will lead a crack field of local pros that include Mars Pucay, Robert Pactolerin and rookie Gerald Rosales.

It will be remembered that in 1995, Rellon easily bested the field to come out the clear winner. Rey Alit, who is also registered for the fourth Manila Open, hopes to "do better this time" though. In the second Konica U-Bix Manila Open, Rey lost the championship to Danny Zarate in a sudden death playoff. Zarate will not be around this time to challenge the two, as he is involved in another tournament abroad.

Rellon and Alit will be in good company. Aside from Pactolerin and Pucay, Lito Rempojo, Rey Alo, Noli Kempis, Gil Ababa, Raymond Sangil, Benjie Magada and Rodrigo Cuello are also in the fold..

A Pro-Am tournament is also scheduled today and is expected to boost the development of the national pool of amateurs. "The Manila Open is about three things," Bravo said. "It is about pushing our pros and amateurs to be better than they are now; it is about raising the development of golf as a professional sport; and it is about having fun."