Miñoza joins hunt in Samsung pro-am

MANILA, Philippines - Frankie Miñoza headlines the P1 million Davao National Pro-Am at the Apo Golf and Country Club on Aug. 25-27 in a rare appearance by the two-time Philippine Open champion on a local tournament.

The former Asian Tour No. 1 has confirmed his participation in the 54-hole event presented by Samsung, his presence expected to provide prestige and honor as he slugs it out with the country’s top pros and the leading players in the amateur ranks.

Miñoza, now a regular campaigner on the US Seniors Tour, saw action in the ICTSI Apo Invitational two weeks ago but struggled to finish joint 19th. He, however, is expected to bounce back and contend for the crown with a partner likely to come from members of the reigning PAL Interclub champion Del Monte, including Leonardo Lofranco and Noel Langgamin, or Del Monte talents Julius Bautista, Reymon Jaraula or Bannie Abaño.

But he will be as much tested as the homegrown talents with Tony Lascuña, Marvin Dumandan and Cassius Casas also in the crack list chasing the top P172,000 purse in the event held in coordination with leading retail network Emcor and backed by Kawasaki, Apo Golf and Country Club, Cargo Serv, Goetz, Transworld, Malayan Insurance, Dasia Security, LVL Construction and Vigor Construction.

A total of 110 teams will see action with the amateur champion to receive merchandise and trophy. The second and third placers will receive P116,000 and P68,000, respectively, with their amateur partners to get corresponding merchandise as their prizes.

The top 30 pros after eight legs of the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour will lead the cast in the tournament supported by Skygo, Camel, JD Alvarado Architects, RDV Printing, Koppel, Unicenter, The Hive, Business Mirror, Microtel Davao, Air Philippines Express, Footjoy and Titleist by Empire Golf, Mizuno, Custom Clubmakers, Glucoscare and Omnisource Int’l.

Registration is ongoing with deadline set on Aug. 22. Fee is pegged at P6,000 per team, inclusive of one free practice round on Aug. 23 or 24. For details, log on to www.bluemansioncompany.com or contact the organizing Bluemansion Enterprise and Services Co. at 211-5952 or 0917-8121242.

Edgar Ababa-Paul Echavez ran away with a five-shot romp over Dan Cruz and Jerson Balasabas to rule last year’s staging of the annual event but Echavez and Balasabas have since joined the pro ranks and will have their respective amateur partners this year.

Aside from the Davao Pro-Am, Samsung is also the lead backer of the country’s amateur tour, the Samsung National Club Championships and the Samsung Interscholastics, while Emcor has partnered with Samsung to help local pros and amateurs and at the same time provide a competition for clients of Emcor.