Celebrity pro-am ushers in 89th Open

LIPA CITY — The glamorous and the politically-powerful are among 160 players teeing off today for the Celebrity Pro-Am that officially kicks off the 89th Philippine Open at the Malarayat here.

First Gentleman Jose Miguel "Mike "Arroyo and POC president Jose "Peping" Cojuangco will hit two of several ceremonial drives as Asia’s oldest national championship gets off the ground at the Mts. Makulot and Lobo nines.

Tee-off will be at 8:30 a.m. shotgun style.

Senators Lito Lapid and Ralph Recto, Games and Amusements Board chairman Eric Buhain, Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee chair Obet Pagdanganan and former winner Ben Arda have also been invited.

Matinee idol-sportsman Richard Gomez and former Parañaque Mayor Joey Marquez head the showbiz personalities in the 40-team side event before regular action in the $200,000 Asian Tour tilt co-presented by San Miguel Corp. and ICTSI gets underway tomorrow.

Forty of the top pros in the field will be gunning for attractive cash prizes, while the amateurs for handsomely-crafted trophies and the chance to win fabulous prizes in the raffle.

The awarding, where Lipa Mayor Vilma Santos-Recto is the guest of honor, will be held at the Malarayat Ballroom after cocktails and dinner hosted by arch. Antonio Turalba Sr., chairman of the 27-hole complex.

The Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corp., PAL, Hanjin heavy industries and construction company limited, Aboitiz Group, Petron Blaze, PCSO, the Department of Tourism and Malarayat Hotel and Inn are also backing the event.

A 43-inch Philips projection TV set serving as the centerpiece item in a home theater package, an IT, sports fans‚ and BMG energy saver showcases are just some of the items to be raffled off in the awarding.

The Unforgettables featuring Pinky Marquez will provide the entertainment numbers.

Omega is giving away a His & Hers pair of Constellation watches and is also a partner of the event like BMG Solar, Konica U-Bix, Human by Bench, Universal Robina Corp., Centennial Savings Bank, Patio Pacific of Boracay and Mizuno.

Celebrity Pro-Am format calls for three amateurs joining a professional to form one team, with the best score in each hole to count for the team score.

The 40 professionals will all have to hole out in each hole for their individual tournament.