Delariarte eyes big start in DHL-NGAP tilt

Jerome Delariarte is bringing a bag full of bullishness and goals into the coming amateur golf season.

And the DHL-NGAP Open is right on his wish list.

"The DHL Open is like a major in amateur golf and siyempre, everybody wants to win it," said Delariarte, the reigning national amateur champion. "Besides, I’m sure all the best amateur golfers in the country will be there."

Delariarte, for so long toiling under the shadows of long-time teammate Angelo Que, started to break out last year when he beat his good friend in an epic finale to the national amateurs at Eagle Ridge that went down to the last hole."

The 24-year-old national team vanguard now hopes to make a bigger mark this year starting in the eighth edition of the DHL-NGAP Open, a 72-hole event set Jan. 28-31 at the North course of the Canlubang Golf and Country Club.

Delariarte is expected to be at the head of the Southwoods contingent in the event presented by DHL Worldwide Express and WWW Express, which has cut a reputation as one of the most prestigious amateur golf events in the land.

"We expect a full complement of the country’s top amateurs in the field and nothing less than a big battle for top honors," said DHL chairman Rod Feliciano, also the president of the organizing National Golf Association of the Philippines.

Turning pro is an option that is on the table for Delariarte, but he is in no rush to make that decision this year.

The priority right now, he said, is to make a big impact in the amateur scene beginning hopefully with the DHL Open, where he is expected to cross swords with Canlubang spearhead and RP teammate Juvic Pagunsan.