Tsai hottest putter in Samsung meet

Patrick Tsai wielded the hottest putter among the 250 entries who took part in the blockbuster opening leg of the Samsung Putting Challenge at the Aguinaldo Golf Club over the weekend, winning his division with 14 strokes out of a possible 18.

Tsai, a young stock broker, collected five birdies – including an ace on the designated hole – that more than made up for a three-putt miscue on his last hole for the lowest score in the well-attended weekend launch.

The Aguinaldo stop kicks off a seven-leg swing of the Putting Tour–part of a three-in-one event dubbed as the Samsung DigitAll Golf Challenge – also sponsored by TaylorMade Adidas, Gatorade, Maxfli, Custom Clubmakers, Hotshots Flame-Grilled Burgers, Wave 89.1, City Lite 88.3, 103.5 K–Lite, Magic 89.9, KillerBee and 99.5 RT are radio partners.

Tsai led the 10 players who advanced to the grand finals next year. Also making it with their respective scores are SJR Bello (15) and Rafael Balignasay (18) for the seniors group, Roger Hisarza (15), Teddy Viduya (15) and Henry del Rosario (15) for the men’s class, Josie Untal (16) and Ia Bakunawa (17) for ladies, and Matet Salivio (17) and JP de Claro (19) for jungolf.

All the qualifiers received Taylor Made putters. For his hole-in-one feat, Tsai joined nine others who earned the chance to win a brand- new car in the grand finals.

Also advancing to the "putt for a car" finale are James Tocjayao, Sait Choi, Froilan Bonifacio, Mike Maglaque, Dante Rivera, Victor Antigua, Rudy Amata and Mabel Salivio.

The other qualifying legs are slated at Canlubang (Nov. 9-10), Riviera (Nov. 23-24), Cebu (Dec. 7-8), Villamor (Dec. 14-15), Orchard (Jan. 4-5) and Wack Wack (Jan. 18-19)

The top two male amateurs, the top female amateur, the winning jungolfer (17 years and below) and the seniors winner (55 years and above) will advance to the grand finals on Jan 31, 2003 at Wack Wack.

Also part of the Samsung DigitAll Challenge, the first major involvement in golf of the electronics giant, is the Samsung Amateur Tour and the Samsung Interscholastics. The first leg of the Tour will be played at the Faldo course of the Eagle Ridge Golf and Country Club on Nov. 14-15.

Only the first 120 players will be accomodated for the Tour’s opening stop. Please call (046) 419-2855 to register.