GMA to grace Fil-Am golf inaugurals

BAGUIO — The cold spell that has shrouded this mountain-top city has failed to dampen the spirits of more than 700 players raring to show their wares in the 52nd Fil-Am International Amateur golf championships which fires off Monday at the Camp John Hay and Baguio Country Club courses here.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who is visiting Bontoc, Mountain Province and Baguio over the weekend, is expected to grace the event and officially start the tournament, dubbed as the biggest and longest-running amateur international golfest.

Action starts at 6 a.m. with the Fil Division at the BCC while the Am teams play at John Hay.

In a message, Arroyo praised the Fil-Am Golf Association for its "unwavering commitment in promoting sports development in the country."

"This tournament," the President said in her message to the organizers, "is an auspicious opportunity to promote sports and engender stronger fellowship among Fil-Am golf enthusiasts." — Artemio Dumlao