MANILA, Philippines - The WWWExpress-DHL Amateur Open golf championship presented by MVP Sports Foundation unwraps today with a stellar field, led by the local aces and a slew of Korean expatriates, clashing for top honors at the North Course of the Canlubang golf complex in Laguna.
Rupert Zaragosa, the former men’s and boy’s national champion, and PAL Interclub revelation Keanu Jahns spearhead the local challenge in the 18th staging of the 72-hole event won last year by Korea’s Shin Jin-woo.
The event serves as part of the PLDT Group Amateur Golf Tour with slots in the national pool at stake, according to the organizing National Golf Association of the Philippines.
Andres Saldana and Justin Quiban, teammates of Jahns at Alabang, along with Justin Quiban Cebu Country Club’s stalwarts LJ Go and Gen Nagai are also entered in the tournament backed by Pancake House, Nike and Pacsports.
A 54-hole women’s event will tee off tomorrow with the entire ICTSI squad, headed by Dottie Ardina, Jayvie Agojo and Princess Superal and handled by Bong Lopez, seeing action.
Zaragosa hopes to start out strong as he tries to flash his familiarity with the tree-lined layout designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. which he calls home.