Tanpinco reluctant finalist

BACOLOD – While others would pull out all the stops to make it to the national team, JR Tanpinco would rather stop and give up the rare chance of landing a spot in the RP squad than put back his plans to work.

“I have decided to work after this event,” said JR Tanpinco, eyeing an assistant golf manager spot at The Orchard Golf and Country Club in Cavite this month. “Even if I win, I won’t contest any other slot in the national team.”

The top 16 players in the match play will be joined by former national team member Jhonnel Ababa and reigning Hong Kong Amateur Open champion Dante Becierra in this week’s four-day elims at the Valley Golf Club with the top six making up the national pool.

If he prevails over Ferdie Aunzo today, Tanpinco will still get the No. 7 spot even if he fails to make it to the top six in the elims. But the Bacolod native has already made up his mind to forego a crack in the RP squad vying in two tough international events – the Putra Cup in Singapore in August and the World Amateurs in Australia in October.

But Tanpinco’s decision to pass up a plausible stint in the RP team didn’t surprise father Nene, a proud dad after his 26-year-old son kept his children’s bid for a rare sweep of the championship as Anya Tanpinco stayed in the hunt for a second straight title in the ladies side of the event with a victory over Carmelette Villaroman.

”He has already made up his mind and I don’t want to meddle into that,” said the elder Tanpinco of JR, who finally made it to the championship after six failed attempts. – Dante Navarro