RP golfers eye strong start against Aussies

NARITA, Japan – A talent-laden Philippine team is raring to strut its stuff in the Nomura Cup as it is ranged against defending champion Australia and India in the opener of the event at the Narita Golf Club here today.

National team coach Bong Lopez and team captain Gen. Bert Sabularse hope to come up with the right combination to ensure a strong start for the Filipino golfers in this event also known as the Asia-Pacific Golf Team Championship.

"Personally, I want to start out strong and put (Juvic) Pagunsan and (Artemio) Murakami in the first two flights and hope that (Jay) Bayron and (Erwin Vinluan) will hold their own in the last two," Lopez said.

He added that the power-hitting duo of Pagunsan or Murakami could either take the Nos. 1 and 4 spots and put Bayron and Vinluan in the middle flights or vice versa or the team’s top two golfers play in the last two flights.

Whatever, Lopez sees a fine start for his wards and a successful campaign for the team chasing a first-ever title here although he maintains the Aussies remain a threat despite fielding in virtually a new squad this year.

"Although three members of the 2003 champion squad are not around, Australia remains strong since there had been no quality loss as far as the team’s strength is concerned," said Lopez.

Former US amateur champion Nick Flanagan, Richard Moir and James Nitties will no longer be around but Australia remains the biggest stumbling block to the Philippines’ bid. Holdover Michael Sim heads the squad which includes Andrew Tampion, winner of the Saujana Open Am Championship, and Andrew Dodt and Aussie-based Korean Woon Joon Lee, both members of the Four Nations champion squad.

The four-day event also serves as part of the RP Team’s buildup for the coming Southeast Asian Games in Manila and the NGAP, through the support of golf patron Ricky Razon, has provided the members of the national pool such kind of international exposure to toughen them up for the Manila SEAG slated Nov. 27-Dec. 5.