Stars, future champs to vie in DHL Amateur

The eighth DHL-NGAP Amateur Golf Championship unfolds Jan. 28-31 at Canlubang’s North course, once again serving as breeding ground for future champions and a battleground for the newest rivalry in Philippine amateur golf.

Presented by DHL Worldwide Express and WWW Express, the DHL Amateur brings together the biggest names in amateur golf—from the premier men’s division to the women’s bracket to the newly created seniors division.

From these ranks should emerge the new forces to take over from the likes of Angelo Que and Marlon Dizon, former DHL Amateur champions and national team mainstays who have moved on to the pro ranks last year.

That honor should be a toss-up between Juvic Pagunsan and Jerome Delariarte, remnants of the Philippine team that placed a historic third in the last World Amateurs in Kuala Lumpur and now the vanguards of the national team.

"We’re proud of the fact that the DHL Amateur has evolved into one of the biggest and most keenly awaited events in the golf calendar," said Rod Feliciano, DHL chairman and president of the organizing National Golf Association of the Philippines.

"We hope the event once again serves as a showcase of Philippine amateur golf at its finest, and at the same time a springboard for future stars," Feliciano added.

With Que and Dizon no longer around, the attention is expected to shift to Pagunsan, the reigning Southeast Asian Games champion, and Delariarte, who grabbed the national amateur crown from buddy Que last year.

But it will by no means be a two-man fight, with emerging names like former caddies champion Jay Bayron and Del Monte ace and national player Paul Miñoza expected to crowd Delariarte and Pagunsan.

The battle for the women’s crown is expected to be just as tight, with defending champion Carmelette Villaroman, top stars Heidi Chua, Aileen Rose Yao, Cangolf bet and Southern Ladies champion Lina de Guzman, Luzvimin champion Lora Roberto and Jungolf sensation Jayvee Agojo being tipped this early to figure prominently in the hunt.