RP amateurs start bid in Singapore Open

SINGAPORE – Former national champion Mhark Fernando, former Hong Kong Amateur Open titlist Dante Becierra and Jhonnel Ababa kick off the Philippines’ title drive in the Singapore Amateur Open Championship which gets going today at the Warren Golf and Country Club course here.

Fernando has been tipped as among the favorites in the four-day championship by the local media along with Malaysian Jeremiah Kim, who recently won the Singapore junior crown, Nay Bala Win Mying of Myanmar, Hamza Amin of Pakistan and Mithu Perera of Sri Lanka and local bets Jerome Ng and Koh Dengshan.

The veteran Filipino campaigner drew a 7:55 a.m. tee-off on No. 1 in the company of Winston Wu of Hong Kong, Amin and Perera.

Becierra, on the other hand, has been trying to find the form that won him the 2007 HK Amateur crown with the 24-year-old shotmaker hoping to come up with a strong start in the tournament which lured 96 players from eight nations.

Becierra will start at the backside of the rolling par-72 layout in the 8:16 a.m. flight that includes Safdar Khan of Pakistan, Ong Chew Meng of Singapore and ICTSI teammate Brent Sumampong.

Jessie Balasabas, the low amateur in the recent Aboitiz Invitational of the ICTSI-PGT circuit, is also in the fold along with Miguel Tabuena and Justin Limjap with the Filipinos campaign sponsored by ICTSI and sanctioned by the National Golf Association of the Phils.