52 foreign bets vie in Samsung jungolf

At least nine countries are represented in the seventh staging of the Samsung Philippine International Junior Golf Championship scheduled on Jan. 6-7 at the east course of the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club.

Fifty-two foreign junior players have already confirmed their participation in the annual event with Hong Kong and Taiwan fielding in 10 players each. Thailand and Singapore have so far entered seven players. Malaysia is sending at least six players including two from Sarawak.

South Korea is yet to finalize a sizable group while Australia and the United States are represented by a top-notch junior player each.

Philippine participation will be composed of players from Metro Manila and regional qualifiers from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Qualifiers from the Visayas and Mindanao will be flown to Manila and back courtesy of Cebu Pacific, the official airline of the event since its first staging in 1998.

The tournament is open to all qualified local junior players irregardless of affiliation. Interested players may call tournament chairman Gerard Cantada at cellphone 0917-8332353 for information.

Other sponsors and supporters of this major junior golf event in the Asean region are Pagcor, Toyota Otis, Morelia Tours, Cowhead Milk, Philippine Flour Mill, Triplex Tents, Holiday Inn Galleria Suites–the official hotel, noted horseowner Herminio Esguerra, sportsmen Takenobu Taira and Guilberto Duavit.