Big prizes staked in Southwoods invitational

MANILA, Philippines - The Invitational 2009, a two-man (member-guest) golf event, is set April 2-5 with more than 250 squads teeing off at the Masters and Legends courses of the Manila Southwoods Golf and Country Club in Carmona, Cavite.

Following the tradition of the previous invitationals, Manila Southwoods chairman Robert John Sobrepeña said yesterday the tournament would offer a number of hole-in-one and raffle prizes.

The hole-in-one items include a 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer GLS M/T courtesy of Mitsubishi Motors and Diamond Motors Corp., an eight-day, seven-night Mexican Riviera cruise for two from Royal Caribbean International-Baron Travel Corp. with Korean Air business class tickets (Manila-Los Angeles-Manila).

The Royal Caribbean-Baron Travel’s five-day, four-night Asian cruise for two with airline tickets, a four-day, three-night golf package inclusive of airfare, accommodation and rounds of golf in Kota Kinabalu from Sabah Tourism Board, and a three-day, two-night room stay for two with breakfast at the Mactan Shangri-La are up for grabs.

The Invitational 2009 is also staking a motorbike from SYM Motorbike, a 2-HP split-type air-condition unit from Mit-Air Sales Center, a three-day, two-night vacation package inclusive of airfare from El Nido Resorts and a golf vacation package either to China or Bangkok from Coca-Cola.

Three golf sets from Wilson Sports, Masters Sports-Mizuno, and Dynamic Sports plus golf carts each from Club Car/Pacsports and Texas Eagle/The Turf Company are also at stake.

The four-day tournament will play to a 36-hole Modified Stableford competition. For a minimal tournament fee, each competing pair will be given Hi-Tec golf shoes and a Hi-Tec dri-fit shirt, two complimentary practice rounds for the guest partner, meals on playing dates, and a ticket for the raffle – all double the amount of the fee.

Teams will be divided into five groups based on the handicap of the Southwoods members. Class A is (0-9) handicap, Class B (10-15), Class C (16-21), Class D (22-27) and the guests/sponsors. Members with handicaps of 28 and up will play to a 27 maximum while the ceiling for guests is 21.