ICTSI-PGT launches full 12-leg season

MANILA, Philippines - The country’s touring pros and leading amateurs brace for a busy season as the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour lined up a full calendar of tournaments offering P1 million each to be disputed over 54 holes at the top golf courses in the land.

The Royal Northwoods in San Rafael, Bulacan will host the opening leg on March 30-April 1 for the ICTSI Royal Northwoods Championship with Marvin Dumandan seeking to defend one of the three leg titles he won in a solid campaign last year.

The organizing Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. has tapped five new courses with the Eastridge Golf Club in Binangonan hosting the fourth leg on June 1-3 for the ICTSI Eastridge Classic. Also staging the circuit for the first time are Tagaytay Midlands, Iloilo Golf and Country Club, Bacolod Golf and Country Club and Wack Wack.

“By tapping new courses, we hope to provide a different kind of challenge to our pros and amateurs,” said Ricky Razon, chairman and CEO of the International Container Terminal Services, Inc., as he renewed his commitment to support Philippine golf through the staging of the pro tour and by sponsoring the campaigns of the leading amateurs and the country’s top jungolfers.

Meanwhile, Razon will launch the 12-leg ICTSI-PGT today during awards rites of The Country Club Invitational pro-am tournament at the TCC layout in Laguna.

The TCC Invitational fires off Thursday with the cream of the pro crop, headed by defending champion Angelo Que and former winners Juvic Pagunsan, Artemio Murakami, Tony Lascuña, Cassius Casas and Jerome Delariarte, vying for the top P1.4 million purse.

The P4.7 million event, considered as the country’s golfing major, actually serves as the kick off leg of the local circuit with the Mt. Malarayat Golf and Country Club in Lipa, Batangas, host of the opening stage of the first two editions of the ICTSI-PGT, now becoming the second leg on April 6-8 for the ICTSI Classic.

The Orchard will hold the third leg on May 18-20 for the ICTSI Orchard Golf Championship followed by the ICTSI Eastridge Classic. The ICTSI Mt. Malarayat, also a leg on the Mercedes-Benz ASEAN Tour, will be circuit’s fifth leg on June 16-18 while the ICTSI Midlands Classic will be held June 29-July 1.

The other hosts are Iloilo (July 13-15), Bacolod (July 20-22), Cebu (Aug. 3-5), Del Monte (Aug. 24-26) Wack Wack (to be confirmed) and Canlubang (Nov. 9-11).