Miñoza joins hunt for P1.2M pot in TCC invitational

Frankie Miñoza completes the dream cast in The Country Club Invitational as he joins the cream of the local golf crop in the chase for the P1.2 million top prize beginning tomorrow at The Country Club course in Canlubang.

Although Miñoza is coming off a mediocre performance in last week’s rain-shortened Malaysian Open where he placed in joint 63rd, his presence will surely add luster and prestige in the P4-million tournament and his game expected to raise the level of play among the competing field.

"Frankie will surely fire up the rest of the field into playing their best in this blue-ribbon tournament. So we’re expecting a shootout in the next four days," said Vince Villafuerte of the organizing Videocom.

He will also lead the star-studded cast in the traditional pro-am today, which will also serve as his practice round for the main event, put up by Enrique Razon Jr. in 2003 to honor the memory of his father, Don Pocholo, an avid golfer like him.

Meanwhile, reigning RP Ladies Open champion Debbie de Villa and national pool members Anya Tanpinco and Lora Roberto will also see action in the event as part of their preparations for the various international tournaments, including the Thailand Ladies Open set early next month.

Despite that sputtering windup in Kuala Lumpur, where he closed out with a 74 after two 69s, the battle-scarred Miñoza is actually enjoying a resurgence of sort last year after a couple of seasons in the doldrums.

A six-time winner in the rich Japan Tour, the 46-year-old Miñoza suffered a dip in form on the greens before finding his touch again with a solid campaign in 2005 with three top five finishes on the Asian Tour.

But he will be ranged against an equally-talented roster featuring defending champion Jerome Delariarte and former titlists Cassius Casas and Tony Lascuna plus a new pair of brand-new pros — Juvic Pagunsan and Artemio Murakami — out to make an impact on the local tour and become spoilers for the experienced players.

For one, Pagunsan will be trying to redisplay the form he showed here last year when he spearheaded the RP team’s romp in the SEA Games, including the individual gold he won in emphatic fashion.