Wide-open race seen in RP Amateurs

MANILA, Philippines - With Ferdie Aunzo now in the pro ranks, the battle for this year’s Philippine Amateur Golf Championships is expected to go down to the wire among the country’s top players when the event is held June 3-7 at the Eastridge Golf Club in Binangonan, Rizal.

The organizing National Golf Association of the Phils. said registration is now ongoing with the field open to the first 75 players (men) with handicap index of 7.3 and below, 25 lady players with index of 9.8 and below and seniors aged 55 years old and above with handicap index of 9.6 and below.

Only handicap indexes issued by NGAP member-clubs will be honored. Entry fee is pegged at P2,500. For details, contact NGAP at (632-5179778/5577849/09175607074 - Susan Facundo) or fax (632-7065926) or Eastridge Golf Club at (632-6512240/6512275 or fax (632-6512270).

Deadline for listup is on May 25 for foreign players and May 26 for local bets.

Expected to lead the field are Tonton Asistio and Rufino Bayron from the ICTSI golf stable and Jhonnel Ababa, Mark Fernando and Jessie Balasabas from Calatagan while Anya Tanpinco goes for a three-peat in the ladies side.

The top 32 players from the men’s group, the top 16 from the ladies category and eight from the seniors side after the 36-hole stroke play qualifying on June 3-4 will advance to the match play phase of the event.

Two rounds in the men’s event will be played in the first day of match play on June 5 with the winners advancing to the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds on June 6.