Explosive start seen in Canlubang Open

MANILA, Philippines - An early shootout among the favorites is expected as local ace Rupert Zaragoza and Apo Golf’s Micah Shin clash in one of the featured flights in today’s start of the Canlubang Amateur Open’s Championship Division at Cangolf’s north course in Laguna.

Zaragoza, the former national and junior champion, and Shin, the 15-year-old Korean expat who teamed up with Ramil Bisera to win the recent Samsung-Emcor Davao National Pro-Am crown, have been pitted against each other in the 8:50 a.m. flight that includes Orchard’s Agustin Mata and Riviera’s Song Seung Hyo.

National pool mainstay Jik-Jik Abdon of Southwoods drew Bino dela Paz, and Eagle Ridge’s Choi Min Sik and Lee Jong Chan in the 8:10 a.m. group while AR Ramos, also of Southwoods, will tee off at 8 a.m. with Eastridge’s Noel Florendo, Orchard’s Cho Byu Kyu and Yoon Chun Byung of Eagle Ridge in the event serving as part of the Globe Business Amateur Golf Circuit.

Alabang’s Andres Saldaña, another Phl pool mainstay, hopes to cash in on his early 7:50 a.m. start with Cangolf’s Kris Etter, Cho Phil Kyu of Orchard and Riviera’s Kim Young Sik while Joey Huerva, also of Canlubang, will play alongside Capitol’s Kenneth Kano, Royal Northwoods’ Moon Jin Young and Eagle Ridge’s Park Jin Young in the 8:30 a.m. group.

Cangolf’s Gabriel Manotoc and Alabang’s Sebastian Lorenzo, two of country’s rising stars, Paulo Puyat of Alabang and Southwoods’ Mark Vijar, are also joining the title hunt in the 54-hole tournament sanctioned by the National Golf Association of the Phils. and backed by Pancake House.

Also on tap are the 36-hole competitions in the Ladies Division, featuring members of the ICTSI-The Country Club squad, Class A (11-and-below), Class B (12-18), Class C (19-and-above) to be played in the last two days.

Prizes will be given to the winner and the next three placers in the championship division and top two gross finishers and the top three net placers in the other categories of the annual tournament which drew a total of 246 players.

For details, call Cangolf office (Fely Anillo and/or Darly Patalot) at tel./fax Nos. (049) 549-1363, (049) 549-0148 loc. 231/e-mail [email protected] or at Makati office (Maite Tengco and/or Carol) at (02) 897-6887, fax (02) 890-9321/e-mail [email protected].