Manotoc clarifies stand on NGAP row

Multi-titled amateur golfer Tommy Manotoc yesterday clarified that he had sought the presidency of the country’s governing golf body but reconsidered his decision and simply pushed for better representation for his group in the board of the National Golf Association of the Philippines (NGAP), which would hold its biennial elections on April 26.

"Mr. (Rod) Feliciano and I have held some talks and agreed I would support his leadership and hopefully come up with a common slate for the coming elections and in the process I have asked for two pre-conditions for me to get involved in the board," said Manotoc.

Manotoc had sought from the NGAP leadership that he be given the chance to name four nominees in the board in a bid to put in place an efficient amateur program and that "no director or his family be allowed to do any personal business with the association." But Feliciano said there are rules and procedures to follow and he could not commit to any of these conditions.

With these developments, Manotoc felt that his "vision of unifying" the different golf clubs under the NGAP will no longer be possible" and decided to withdraw from the NGAP elections.

Manotoc had tried to rally a big number of golf clubs back to the NGAP fold, saying that their return to the golf body is vital to the development of RP golf. But efforts to lure these clubs back into the golf body was stymied by the last NGAP circular which mandated the delinquent golf clubs to pay their back dues.

Still, Manotoc didn’t lose hope and had tried to hold conciliatory talks with Feliciano where he reiterated his decision not to seek the presidency.

"It’s too bad because there are people who wanted him (Manotoc) to be in the board. But it’s really their prerogative," Feliciano was quoted as saying.

Manotoc maintained that the four director seats are necessary since he needs these men to push for the development program he had planned to launch under the aegis of the NGAP.

Cangolf’s Luigi Yulo, one of the four directors Manotoc had nominated to the board, also backed out of the NGAP polls. The other Manotoc nominees were Yoyong Velez of Del Monte and Alex Montelibano, representing Visayas.

Manotoc also added that negotiations with the Philippine Golf Foundation for a possible tie-up for his amateur development program has been ongoing at the moment.

A press conference will be held April 19 at the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club to announce the program. — Dante Navarro