RP, foreign bets vie in Samsung jungolf

The country’s top players will pit their skills against their counterparts worldwide when the seventh Samsung Philippine International Junior Golf Championship starts Tuesday at Wack Wack.

Veteran internationalists Jenz Tecson, Paolo and Frederick Garcia, the Superals and Nicole Serapio head the cast from Metro Manila.

Taiwan has seven players from the Golf Association of the Republic of China (GAROC) while 10 players represent the Hong Kong Golf Association. Players from Malaysia, Thailand, Sarawak, Singapore, Australia and the US are participating in this annual event that has become extremely popular among junior players in the region.

The traditional opening ceremony will be held at 4 p.m. tomorrow at Wack Wack with golf columnist and rules authority Taby Tabaniag as guest speaker.

The four-day tournament starts Tuesday at the Wack Wack East course. First Gentleman Mike Arroyo has been invited for the third straight time to hit the ceremonial drive.

"Once again, we have a talent-studded field as well as an array of generous sponsors in the region’s biggest tournament," said organizer Edgardo "Tito Boy" Cantada.

"We welcome all the participants as we also express our gratitude to our supporters, most especially title sponsor Samsung."

Other sponsors are Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, Cebu Pacific, San Miguel Corporation, Nike Pacsports, PLDT, Toyota Otis, Morelia Tours, Philippine Flour Mill, Gatorade, Cowhead Milk, Airlift Asia, Holiday Inn Galeria Suites, sportsmen Takanobu Taira, Gilberto Duavit, Raul Jorge, Hermie Esguerra and Triplex Tents.