Wide-open race up for SEAG golf golds

MANILA, Philippines - With no one enjoying the benefit of a course advantage, the Philippine golf team to the 25th Southeast Asian Games is hopeful about its gold medal chances in Laos, Vientiane two weeks from now.

The competing countries will have very little time to familiarize themselves with the newly constructed Booyoung golf course, located in the Saythani District of the capital city, thus making the four-day meet a wide-open race.

“We hope to bring home the bacon,” said RP team skipper Pablo Soon, accompanied by ladies team coach Carmelette Villaroman, player Tonton Asistio and National Golf Association of the Philippines (NGAP) executive officer Jake Ayson, to the weekly PSA Forum yesterday at the Shakey’s UN Avenue branch.

“It will be the first time all participants will be playing in the course, so no one has the upper hand as far as familiarity of the venue is concerned,” said Villaroman, a SEA Games gold medal winner during the 1995 staging of the meet in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

The men’s team is composed of the best players in the ranks, headed by reigning champion Mhark Fernando, Cangolf Am winner Jhonnel Ababa and veteran internationalists Rufino Bayron and Asistio.

Equally talented is the ladies squad led by reigning Hong Kong Ladies Amateur Open and Indonesia Amateur winner Chihiro Ikeda and US-based Dottie Ardina and Mia Piccio.