Samsung Amateur Tour unwraps at John Hay

BAGUIO , Philippines   – The second leg of the Samsung Amateur Tour fires off today at the Camp John Hay Golf Club course here with a huge cast of 160 players vying for honors in eight handicap divisions.

Ideal weather and playing conditions are expected in the next two days that will pave the way for a close competition among the Northern Luzon players and visitors coming mostly from Metro Manila.

There are around 50 Big City bets out to challenge local members and Baguio residents for the top awards in this tournament sponsored by Samsung Electronics Philippines, Inc.

Also tipped to contend for the crown are the Korean expats who have been a major force in past Samsung tournaments. They won four of the eight titles in the Orchard leg last month.

“We were quite surprised with the turnout, about a third of the field registered at the last minute,” said Boy Blue Ocampo of the organizing Professional Sports Management Group, Inc.

Division champions will receive premium phones from Samsung and other fabulous raffle items are also up for grabs.

The Samsung Tour is backed by Mizuno, Crestlink, Custom Clubmakers, Wow Magic Sing, Omnisource International, Gargol, Cranutti and ABW. International Armoring and Club Car are the hole-in-one sponsors while media sponsors are Inquirer Golf, Golf Punk and A Round of Golf.

International Armoring is putting up a P100,000 cash prize and Club Car a golf cart for hole-in-one feats.

For the men, the championship bracket will be those with handicaps of 0 to 3.9, Class A for 4 to 8.9, Class B for 9 to 14.9, Class C for 15 to 21.9 and Class D for 22 and above. For the ladies, Class A is for 0 to 8.9, Class B for 9 to 19.9 and Class C for 20 and above.

The John Hay event forms part of Samsung’s four major championships this year. It also sponsored the Philippine amateurs at Eastridge, staged a Samsung Am Tour leg at Orchard and will hold the Interscholastics at Canlubang next month.