First Gent’s PGC on at Sta. Elena

Local professionals return to competitive action as the First Gentleman’s Professional Golf Circuit blasts off today with a full force of 105 players going for the big slices of the P500,000 prize money at the well-kept Sta. Elena Golf Club course in Cabuyao, Laguna.

It will be the first full professional event in nearly two years and the rusty pros are all itching to jump on the cash available on the table in the kickoff leg of a 12-tournament nationwide tour that will reach as far south as Zamboanga.

First Gentleman Mike Arroyo and Comelec chair Ben Abalos, also the commissioner of the Professional Golfers Association of the Philippines, will hit the ceremonial balls preceding the first tee-off at 7 a.m.

The joint efforts of Arroyo, whose First Gentleman Foundation, Inc. is bankrolling the Tour’s opening leg, and Abalos have succeeded in perking up a renewed interest in pro golf from various sectors.

The new circuit is being organized by the Federation of Golf Clubs Philippines, Inc. headed by its president Ogie Manalo which best explains the impressive lineup of exclusive clubs tapped as host venues. It is also sponsored by WG&A Super Ferry and Aliw Broadcasting.

While Cassius Casas, Mars Pucay, Rodrigo Cuello and Antonio Lascuna will be there to be at vanguard of the veterans, three young Turks are out to make the battle more interesting.

Cookie LaO, Marlon Dizon and Solomon Gines have all joined the pro ranks and their presence will surely put the pressure on the veterans who are all lacking in tournament exposure.

Dizon turned pro after he completed his national tour of duty in the just-concluded Asian Games in Busan, Korea – a stint LaO decided to forego for him to keep his focus on his pro tour preparations. LaO, in fact, proved he’s the player to watch when he placed second to Lascuna in the pro-am side-event held last Sunday.

Not just for his topping the pro-am but also based on recent performances, Lascuna appears to be the pro with the game to draw first blood. He had spent the past two months training in his home course in Apo, Davao and is said to be steadily breaking par in practice.

As the club pro, Pucay is tipped to figure well despite his late arrival from Johor Baru, Malaysia where he and Danny Zarate lost a trip to the World Cup in Mexico in a three-team playoff.

Zarate is not in the field since he will be in the Macau Open leg of the Asian Tour this week together with Gerald Rosales.