51st Fil-Am golf gets underway

The world’s biggest amateur golfest gets underway today as the 51st Fil-Am international golf tournament fires off at the par-61 tight and tricky Baguio Country Club (BCC) and challenging par-69 Camp John Hay fairways here.

Fierce battle for supremacy looms between defending champion CAP Manila Southwoods and newly formed Calatagan team whose line-ups composed of national standouts and veteran shotmakers.

Both teams are armed to the teeth with Southwoods seeking a repeat victory. The Calatagans on their maiden voyage in the 72-hole tilt are out to spoil Southwoods’ retention bid in the classic sponsored by BCC, CJH and Globe Tele-Communications.

Former Malacañang golf stalwarts Tommy Manotoc and RP Putra Cupper Solomon Gines banner the Calatagan squad while newcomer Putra Cupper and national open golf titlist Angelo Que is Southwoods’ added firepower.

Youthful golf sensation Gerard Cantada leads the Wack Wack golf club entry which is returning to the Fil-Am fold after an absence of 14 years.

Malacañang, last year’s Fil-Am golden jubilee anniversary runner-up, is not in the roster of competitors.

Manotoc owns the overall low medalist plum, his fifth since Fil-Am golf started in the 60’s as a veritable venue to foster closer bonds of friendship and understanding among American and Filipino players.

Hanson So, Jr. of Southwoods is the defending low medalist champ in the Am-division.

In his message to the participants, President Joseph Estrada wished the golfers good luck adding that "while it is true that sports can stoke the fire of competition among the participants, it is also true that it brings them closer to one another as a people."