Crack RP team ready to end Putra drought

MANILA, Philippines - Former national champion Mhark Fernando and reigning DHL Am titlist Jhonnel Ababa banner the four-man team out to end the Philippines’ long title drought in the Putra Cup golf championship slated Sept. 28-Oct. 1 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The National Golf Association of the Phils. did away with the usual practice of holding a series of qualifying tournaments to determine members of the Philippine squads to various tournaments, tapping Fernando and Ababa along with Jessie Balasabas and Miguel Tabuena of the ICTSI-Cangolf squad into the team.

The Philippines, which used to dominate the event otherwise known as the Southeast Asian team golf championship, has not won since 1996 in Myanmar on a team made up of Antonio Lascuña, Rey Pagunsan, Richard Sinfuego and Gerard Cantada.

However, the RP bets are confident of their title chances this year with Fernando and Ababa hoping to leave the amateur ranks on a winning note. They are set to join the pro ranks after the Asian Games in November.

The RP women’s team also guns for the crown in the Santi Cup, held simultaneously with the Putra Cup along with the Lion City Cup, featuring the region’s leading jungolfers.

Heading the ladies squad is reigning champion Irina Gabasa and ICTSI bets Chihiro Ikeda, Dottie Ardina and Andie Unson.

This marks the 50th staging of the Putra Cup and it will be held at the venue where it started - The Royal Selangor Golf Club.

Fernando is the reigning Indonesian and Malaysian Am champion, while Ababa is a former Sabah Amateur Open winner.

Balasabas has won low amateur honors in four legs of the professional ICTSI Golf Tour, while Tabuena, who played in the Lion City Cup last year, has been the most consistent age-grouper that the NGAP thinks is ready for bigger tournaments.