Angelo Que and Mars Pucay hope to keep the Philippines’ fine showing on the international golf stage the last 18 months as they open their bid in the World Cup of Golf qualifier at the Kota Permai Golf and Country Club in Kuala Lumpur, Malayisa today.
The RP bets are vying for one of the three tickets to the World Cup in China with Que and Pucay out to extend RP’s recent good run with four Filipinos winning on the Asian Tour over the past 18 months and qualifying as well for the British Open, US Open and last year’s World Cup.
The Philippines, behind Jennifer Rosales and Dorothy Delasin, also topped the Women’s World Cup in South Africa early this year.
“It’s been a good year for the Philippines. It’s nice to see the Filipinos play well. It’s good for us to achieve success as others will follow,” Pucay said.
Pucay, enjoying his finest season on the Asian Tour, is teaming up with Que, the reigning Philippine Open champion, as the Philippines bids for a second straight appearance in the World Cup in China in November.
The Philippines is among the 19 nations fighting for berths in the World Cup slated Nov. 27-30 in Shenzhen, China.
Tony Lascuna and Gerald Rosales finished fifth and grabbed the last spot in last year’s World Cup elims but the duo struggled and finished joint 22nd with Wales in a field of 28 in the tournament proper won by Scotland in a playoff over the United States.
But with Pucay in tip-top form, with a third place finish in last week’s Pertamina Indonesia Invitational Open, and Que riding on an equally impressive season that included a win on the Asean Tour and a stint in the British Open, things are looking up for the Philippines.
The format of competition will be the same as the Omega Mission Hills World Cup, with fourball (better ball) being played in the first and third rounds and foursomes (alternate shot) used in the second and final rounds.
The other teams vying for berths are Ghana (Emos Korblah, Victor Brave Mensah), Kenya (Dismas Indiza, Ajay Anil Shah), Mauritius (Billy Narraina, Vishnoo Seeneevassen), Nigeria (Oyebanji Gboyega, Odoh Andrew Oche), Sri Lanka (Anura Rohana, Lalith Kumara), Pakistan (Muhammad Shabbir, Muhammad Munir), Myanmar (Soe Kyaw Naing, Zaw Zaw Latt), Hong Kong (Derek Fung, David Freeman), Nepal (Deepak Thapa Magar, Deepak Neupane), Indonesia (Junaedi Ibrahim, Maan Nasim), and Uganda (Deo Akope, Godfrey Mande).