RP Open back on Asian Tour in 2010

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Open, scrapped from this year’s Asian Tour calendar due to lack of sponsors, will make its return to the region’s premier golf circuit next year with the National Golf Association of the Philippines eyeing a March date at a venue still to be decided.

The Asian Tour, which has grown in status and prestige the last few years, has recently released its 2010 calendar beginning with the Asian Tour International on Feb. 4-7 in Bangkok. It will have a minimum of 28 tournaments, including no fewer than five new events, with over $39 million in total prizes.

Although the RP Open, Asia’s oldest golf championship, has not yet been included in the schedule, the NGAP said it is certain that the country’s premier golfing event will regain its spot in the calendar with negotiations to start right after the staging of the 93rd RP Open, which starts tomorrow.

“For sure, the RP Open will be included again in next year’s Asian Tour calendar. We’re eyeing a late March or early April dates which I think is ideal for an Open magnitude,” said an NGAP official.

The Asian Tour has reserved two dates on March 25-28 and April 1-4, which would serve as the fifth and sixth legs of next year’s circuit. Other scheduled dates still to be filled up are on May 13-16 and May 27-30.

Meanwhile, an 18-hole pro-am tournament, featuring the country’s leading pros and their amateur partners from the event’s sponsors, will be held today at Mt. Malarayat in Lipa, Batangas City.

Defending champion Angelo Que, 2007 winner Frankie Miñoza and last week’s ICTSI-Canlubang Invitational head the pro-am roster that includes Asian Tour campaigners Mars Pucay and Artemio Murakami, Danny Zarate, winner of the ICTSI-Mt. Malarayat leg, Rey Pagunsan, Richardo Sinfuego, Carito Villaroman, Antolin Fernando, Anthony Fernando and Rick Gibson.

With San Miguel Corp. and Stradcom as presenters, the NGAP is staging the all-Filipino Open with a total prize money of P2.5 million.