Sta. Lucia Tour 11th season slated

MANILA, Philippines - After beefing up their respective rosters in the off season, the nine teams participating in the annual Sta. Lucia Golf Tour are all set to campaign for club glory in the 11th season of the course-hopping series.

With the opening leg on Sept. 2-5 less than two weeks away, host Rancho Palos Verdes Golf and Country Club in Davao is busy preparing its championship course and other facilities for the influx of golfers from all over the country.

The 42-strong Palos Verdes contingent will lead the field of 10 golf clubs flying the umbrella of real estate giant Sta. Lucia Realty in an exciting series that will bring players to three cities and four golf courses in a span of nine weeks.

Also playing are Luzon teams Beverly Place in Pampanga, Eagle Ridge in Trece Martires, Cavite, Lake Caliraya Springs in Cavinti, Laguna, Lakewood in Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija, Orchard in Dasmariñas, Cavite, Royale Tagaytay in Alfonso, Cavite, Summit Point in Lipa and Alta Vista in Cebu.

The nine clubs will be represented by teams of varying sizes with Palos Verdes, Eagle and Royale Tagaytay sending in the biggest squads.

Sta. Lucia Realty president and CEO Exequiel Robles and Sta. Lucia Tour executive committee co-chair Vicente Santos and Engr. Wini Gob met with top officials of the competing clubs recently and exhorted everybody to provide the best arrangements possible.

With the impending exit of Sta. Lucia Realty from the pro cage league, plans are afoot for the firm to stage more golf-related projects like the Sta. Lucia Golf Tour.

After the Davao leg, Alta Vista will serve as the venue for the second stage on October 6-10 while Orchard and Eagle Ridge will co-host the final stop on November 2-6.

At stake are team and individual awards for each of the three legs as well as the overall category.