Corporate Cup draws Balikbayans, foreigners

Balikbayan teams and foreign visitors from the United States and Korea will join local golfers in the 17th Philippine Corporate Cup golf championship presented by Smart Gold set to blast off on March 8-10 at the Camp John Hay Golf Club in Baguio City.

All 50 available team slots were filled up long before the registration deadline passed last week, indicating a renewed interest on one of the longest-running corporate events in the local golf scene even by players residing outside the country.

The field of at least 200 golfers (four players make up a team) will try to help their respective teams win the top awards in the following divisions Group I for those with average handicap indeces of 5-9.9, Group II for 10-13.99, Group III for 14-18.99 and Group IV for 19 and above.

There will be a separate competition for seniors aged 55 years and above for the tourney also sponsored by Camp John Hay Golf Club, Camp John Hay Manor, Camp John Hay Dev’t Co. and Wilson.

This year’s Corporate Cup will see a handover of management from its originator Cecil Hechanova and the Philippine Corporate Cup Foundation, Inc. to Club Leisure Corp. which vowed to ensure its continued growth in terms of participation and popularity.

Camp John Hay chairman of the board Robert John Sobrepeña said that they have always believed in the primary goal of the Corporate Cup to foster relations among golfers in the business community and Hechanova can be assured that it will become one of the major events in the club calendar.

"With its closeness to summer, the Corporate Cup at John Hay is an ideal venue for local executives to relax and enjoy the cool weather and a good reason for tourists to go on extended vacation," said Sobrepeña.

The Corporate Cup schedule starts with the official practice round, the hitting of ceremonial balls and welcome cocktails sponsored by Le Chef on March 8. A bonfire get-together party will follow first-day action on March 9 with the awards night at the CAP Convention Center preceding the final round play.

Rep. Mauricio Domogan will be leading the City of Baguio team, Sobrepeña banners the Camp John Hay bid while Hechanova will be joining the Lux Marketing squad. Balibayan teams include Texas and Greenhills while Alta Vista, Mercedes, Nueva Ecija and Orchard are clubs represented outside of Baguio.

Trophies will be awarded to the top two teams per group with the highest point total after 36 holes. The overall individual champions and individual winners per group as well as the top three senior teams and top three senior individuals will also win trophies.

The participating teams:

1919, Alta Vista, ARL Maritime, Artima, Inc., Astig I, Astig II, Bi-Flex Olyset, Brewyard, Camp John Hay Dev’t. Corp., Camp John Hay Golf Club, Camp John Hay Leisure, Camp John Hay Manor, Capital Steel Products, Inc, CargoAire Freight, Cebu Infinity, CIMSI, City of Baguio, Club Marinduque, Dragon Horse Travel and Tours, ERA Gas, FLM Print Corp., Four’s Company, Greenhills I, Greenhills II, Hi-Cor Industries, Inc., JM Investment, Kafagway, Korean Chamber, Le Chef, Leeds Environmental Science, LNP Foundation I, LNP Foundation II, Lux Marketing, Mabuhay Magazine, Medical Systems, Inc.-Calamba Doctors Hospital, MEI Crystal International, Mercedes Plantation, MP Wood Phils., National Petroleum Corp., Neplum, Inc., Nueva Ecija, Orchard, PASGA, Piedras Negras Const. Corp., Powerlux, Smart, Sunpack, Sunrise, Tableria Tan Tao & Sawmill, Inc., Texas, Warbird and Gus Mol.