Seniors tourney to kick off 62nd Fil-Am invitational

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – The 62nd Fil-Am Invitational golf tournament gets going Saturday with the seniors division at the Baguio Country Club and Camp John Hay courses here.

Players from the Asia Pacific Rim and the United States are joining the local shotmakers in this mountain resort for two weeks of golf and fellowship.

“The stage is set and we are ready,” said Fil-Am golf tournament chairman Anthony de Leon as the BCC and CJH courses play host to the biggest gathering of amateur golfers in the country.

The two-day practice rounds start today with the opening cocktails taking place tomorrow with CJH as host.

“We expect 1,260 players and this could grow with the alternates on the side, making this the biggest tournament in terms of participation,” said vice-chair Shin Paul Chan.

“That is a 10 percent increase from last year,” he added.

Tournament proper for the senior’s side and Flights F, G and H in the regular games will start Saturday and will run until Dec. 1 with Toyota Motor Philippines as main sponsor.

After a three-day break, the regular division flights and championship – A, B, C, D and E– will be played Dec. 5-10.

Forest Hill won the men’s regular Fil Division plum last year, with Seabridge Chelus capturing the Am crown. 

Camp John swept both the Fil seniors and Am seniors titles.

Camp John Hay is the defending in the top Fil Championship flight with Bong Mandapat, Nelson Eslao and Fred Puckett out to keep the crown for one of the host clubs.

A Toyota Vios will be staked as hole-in-one prize at the par-69 CJH course’s 18th hole and at No. 10 of the BCC layout.