Visayas regional am unwraps in Bacolod

MANILA, Philippines - Canlubang standouts Paul Echavez and Migo Ochoa headline a huge field teeing off today in the National Golf Association of the Philippines’ Visayas Regional Amateur Championship at the Marapara in Bacolod.

Echavez and Ochoa, who helped the Sugar Barons finish third in the recent Philippine Airlines Interclub in Cagayan de Oro, are two of the favorites in the 72-hole event presented by Pancake House and SOC Land.

Up for grabs are all-expense paid trips to Manila for the Philippine Amateurs next month for the top three finishers coming from the region. The ladies field will dispute two slots in a 54-hole tournament beginning tomorrow.

Art Arbole, who won the Mindanao Regional at Del Monte, has begged off from joining the tournament to play in the Sabah Amateurs slated later in the week.

The event, backed by Great Depot, Callaway and Odyssey Golf and Marapara, will be the second big event for the 21-year-old Ochoa, a long-hitter who had his Interclub debut at Pueblo de Oro.

Del Monte standout Banny Abano finished second to Arbole and won a trip to Manila to play in the PH Am where Clyde Mondilla, his teammate at Del Monte, will be defending his title.

Caddies coming from clubs in the region have also been given free passes to play in the tournament which is the NGAP’s way of exposing them to big-time events and giving them the chance to shine.