TCC Invitational ushers in 13-leg tour today

MANILA, Philippines - The Country Club Invitational, featuring a high-powered field made up of the best in the country’s pro golf, begins today with a P1.45 million top prize from a record P4.7 million pot being offered at the challenging The Country Club layout in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

They are all here. From defending champion Artemio Murakami to two-time winner Juvic Pagunsan to former titlists Cassius Casas, Tony Lascuna, Jerome Delariarte and Angelo Que and a slew of others, including last year’s Order of Merit winner and reigning Philippine Open champion Elmer Salvador to the veteran Frankie Miñoza.

No less than a strong start is expected from this talent-laden cast, each one raring to put on low scores on a windy course that requires accuracy and mental toughness for the momentum and confidence heading into the weekend play.

The four-day championship will also serve as the kickoff leg of the 2010 Philippine Golf Tour, Inc., which was launched during yesterday’s traditional pro-am tournament, which featured a banner roster of players from the business sector and other fields, headed by ICTSI chief Ricky Razon.

The PGTI has lined up a total of 13 legs this year with the Mt. Malarayat Golf and Country Club in Lipa, Batangas hosting the second stage on Feb. 16-18 and the Sherwood Golf and Country Club in Cavite staging the third leg on March 17-19.

Salvador underscored his readiness to go for the crown when he teamed up with Tony Gan to fire a 61 and rule the pro-am tournament. Lascuna and Keith Basso finished second with 61 while Randy Garalde and Chito Buenaventura combined for 63 for third.

Murakami used a pair of solid opening rounds to dominate the field in the last two years with the former turning in an impeccable six-under 64 en route to posting an 11-shot victory over Que in 2008 and the latter firing a record 62 in cruising to a 13-shot romp last year, also over Que.

This time, however, a down-to-the-wire finish is seen with the rest of the field, including young turks Ferdie Aunzo, Marvin Dumandan and Jay Bayron, out to foil Murakami and company for the crown and the title of the year’s first golfing millionaire in this eighth staging of the annual event held in honor of ICTSI founder Enrique “Don Pocholo” Razon Sr.

It will be an early test of will for Murakami, who is coming off an inspiring victory in the Asian Tour Qualifying School Final Stage, a feat that assured his stint on the region’s premier circuit after losing his card following a so-so campaign last year. He tees off at 8:20 a.m. on No. 1 in the company of Ramil Bisera and amateur Jerson Balasabas.

Pagunsan, who nipped Miñoza in a playoff to bag the 2006 title, Que and 2005 winner Delariarte are paired in the featured 8:25 a.m. flight on No. 10 while Miñoza and Casas slug it out with amateur Dante Becierra in the 8:15 a.m. group.

Focus will also be on Salvador, the hottest player in the land last year with an RP Open title and two victories on the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour, who will be up against Dumandan and veteran Richard Sinfuego in the 8:35 a.m. flight.

The second placer will receive P690,000 while the third, fourth and fifth finishers will get P430,000, P310,000 and P230,000, respectively.

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 Danny Zarate, Gene Bondoc, Benjie Magada, Jun Bernis, Rey Pagunsan, Joenard Rates, Ruben Sasutil, Demetrio Sanchez, Michael Bibat; Carito Villaroman and Orlan Sumcad.