Vandals ruin Riviera greens

SILANG, Cavite — Vandals tried to sabotage the staging of the Philippine Open when two putting greens of Riviera’s Langer course were defaced on the eve of the traditional pro-am event which kicked off the 85th RP Open yesterday here.

The par-5 No. 10 and the par-3 No. 12, situated near the boundary of Silang and Dasmariñas, were hacked by the vandals who, club officials said, attacked the course Tuesday night.

"Obviously, it was vandalism but the Silang police and the mayor have already conducted the investigation," said John Blanch, the club’s general manager who personally supervised the repair on the damaged putting greens.

Hardest hit was the 234-yard par-3, which was hacked at least 100 times by pick axe, forcing the club management to put up a provisional green during the pro-am to rush the repair in time for today’s start of the 72-hole championship.

The par-5 No. 10 had around 30 marks and was quickly patched up. There were also red-painted graffiti on the cart path.

"The greens will not be the same, but they will be playable," said Blanch, adding that they have assigned security guards to man the boundary for the duration of the event.

The attack was only the latest in a series of setbacks that marred the staging of the event.

"As what Mr. Rod Feliciano had said, ‘Whatever happens, the RP Open will push through,’" stressed Blanch.

Truly, it will push through with the first round scheduled to start today although it only offers a total pot of P2 million and without the top Asian PGA Tour campaigners, including top Filipino pro Frankie Miñoza.

Miñoza, who won his RP Open crown in 1998 here at the adjacent Couples course, decided to join the rich Casio World Open in Japan also slated this week But the starting field remains as talent-laden with Cassius Casas and Rodrigo Cuello in the fold.

In fact, Casas, who sustained a wrist injury last week is scheduled to tee-off at 10:54 a.m. with American Andrew Pitts and Canadian Rick Gibson.

Cuello also is fancied, together with club pro Danny Zarate, to crowd Casas. if he is in top form, to contend for the top P400,000 purse in this tournament.