Corporate support pours in for Philippine Open

The outpouring of corporate support has assured the forthcoming Philippine Open golf championship of at least P10 million in prize money, organizers bared yesterday.

Casino Filipino and San Miguel Beer are coming in as co-presentors and will shoulder the bulk of the prize package for the 86th edition of the national championship set June 27-July 1 at the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club.

"We’re all set, we have gotten enough corporate support to ensure that we will be able to stage the Open this year," said organizing committee chair Benny Gopez during the recent cocktails for organizers and sponsors at Wack Wack.

The prize money, according to Gopez, is big enough to lure foreign players.

There are already 25 foreign pros from 10 countries who have signed up, including former champion Anthony Kang of Korea (1999, Manila Southwoods) and Asian PGA Tour standouts Arjun Atwal of India and Simon Yates of Scotland.

Also providing its major support to the event jointly organized by National Golf Association of the Philippines and the Wack Wack Golf & Country Club is long-time Open sponsor Mitsubishi Motors Philippines, Inc. Mitsubishi will also put up an attractive hole-in-one package for the tourney.

The other confirmed sponsors are Hanjin Shipping, Prudential Life Pension Plan, General Milling, Bingo Bonanza, Mizuno, Citgo, Solahart, Citra Tollways, Rudy Project, Cinnabon, Tretorn, Marsman, Pyramid Construction, Add Force Services, GG&Aclub Shares, U-Bix and Nextel.

The foreign registrants so far are three Australians, three from Hong Kong, three from India, two from Japan, two from Taiwan, five from the United States, one from Singapore, three from Sweden and three from Myanmar.

Gopez added that invitations sent out to various national golf associations are expected to be answered within the week and he expects at least 60 foreign pros to be in the 150-player starting field.

A $10,000 pot has been allotted for the pro-am side-event on Wednesday, June 27.