12-leg First Gentleman’s circuit bared

The full schedule of the inaugural First Gentleman’s Professional Golf Circuit was released by organizers yesterday with six legs making up the Luzon stage and another six for the southern swing that will keep local pros busy from October all the way up to early March next year.

Sta. Elena, one of the country’s most exclusive golf clubs, marks its return as venue for a pro event by hosting the kick-off leg on Oct. 15-18.

The pro tour, which is being revived through the combined efforts of the First Gentleman Foundation, Inc., the Federation of Golf Clubs (Phils.), Inc. and the Professional Golfers Association of the Philippines, moves to Sherwood Hills for the second leg on Oct. 22-25 and takes the Halloween break after that.

It goes to Canlubang for the third leg on Nov. 5-8 before making way for the UBIX National Pro-Am championship at Riviera on Nov. 10-23.

Three more legs follow in Iloilo, Bacolod and Cebu for the remainder of the year and the Tour, staged in honor of its main supporter Mike Arroyo, resumes again in the south for the seventh to ninth stops in Cagayan de Oro, Davao and Zamboanga.

The final stretch will pass through Orchard, the Tagaytay Midlands – the course in the highlands which will stage its first ever pro bash – and winds up at the renowned Manila Southwoods, site of many bigtime championships. Each leg will have total prize money of P500,000 with P100,000 going to the champion.