MANILA, Philippines - The Country Club Invitational kicks off another golfing season on Jan. 28 with an elite cast of players, led by last year’s runaway winner and Asian Tour Qualifying topnotcher Artemio Murakami, disputing the top purse of P1.45 million from the total prize pot of P4.7M, the richest in its eight-year staging at The Country Club.
Although the last two editions of the annual event were won in lopsided fashions, this year’s title chase is expected to be fierce with the rest of the select 36-player field coming out in top form following a full-season campaign in the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour.
That includes Elmer Salvador, who emerged the OOM topnotcher with a two-leg victory in the revival of the pro circuit, two-time TCC champion Juvic Pagunsan, veteran Frankie Miñoza and the four other former winners of the event – Cassius Casas, Tony Lascuña, Jerome Delariarte and Angelo Que.
Also fighting for top honors in what has become the country’s golfing major are the regular Filipino campaigners on the Asian Tour, headed by Mars Pucay, and the other top players in the OOM ranking, including Richard Sinfuego, Marvin Dumandan, Ferdie Aunzo, Danny Zarate, Jay Bayron, Gene Bondoc, Benjie Magada, Jun Bernis, Rey Pagunsan, Joenard Rates, Ruben Sasutil, Demetrio Sanchez, Ramil Bisera, Michael Bibat;
Carito Villaroman, Orlan Sumcad, Robert Pactolerin, Christopher delos Santos, Ebarra Quiachon, Randy Garalde, Omar Dungca, Anthony Fernando, Elmer Saban, Antolin Fernando, Erwin Vinluan, Jomar Pepito and Rolando Marabe.
Meanwhile, an 18-hole pro-am event will be held on Jan. 27 as a prelude to the keenly awaited four-day championship, put up by golf patron Ricky Razon, chairman and CEO of ICTSI, the global leader in port management, in honor of his late father and ICTSI founder, Enrique “Don Pocholo” Razon Sr., himself an avid golfer.
The event will also serve as the kickoff leg of the 2010 Philippine Golf Tour, which staged a 10-leg circuit over the country’s top courses last year.
The second placer will receive P690,000 while the third, fourth and fifth finishers will get P430,000, P300,000 and P230,000, respectively.