Asiad bronze medalist heads cast in RP amateurs

Michael Bibat, fresh from his bronze medal finish in the Asian Games in Doha, Qatar, gets the top billing in the Philippine Amateur Golf Championships which gets under way on Dec. 18 at The Country Club in Canlubang, Laguna.

Bibat, who rallied in the final round to salvage third place behind Korean Kim Kyung Tae and Taiwanese Pan Cheng Tsung in the individual competition in the Asiad, hopes to keep the momentum of that inspiring finish as he leads the chase for berths in the match play phase of the country’s premier amateur tournament.

"I’ll just stay focused for this event and let’s see what happens," said Bibat, also a former Singapore Open champion. The RP men’s squad placed fifth in team play in Doha.

Out to foil his bid in the event sponsored by ICTSI (International Container Terminal Services, Inc.) are national teammates Jay Bayron, Marvin Dumandan and Gene Bondoc plus the other members of the pool that includes Anthony Fernando, Miko Alejandro and Eugene Bunyi.

Junior World champions Dottie Ardina and Cyna Rodriguez and RP team mainstay Anya Tanpinco, also fresh from the Asiad stint where it finished in fifth place in team competition, head the cast in the ladies side with the top 16 after the two-day stroke play elims advancing to the match play stage.

The field will play two rounds of stroke play competition with the top 32 advancing to the match play event starting Dec. 20. The 16 survivors dispute the quarterfinal berths on Dec. 21 with the winners clashing in the afternoon match for the semis slots.

The semis will be played on Dec. 22 and the finals, a 36-hole affair, will be held on Dec. 23, according to NGAP (National Golf Association of the Phils.), which will conduct the event. - Dante Navarro