Sherwood ready for Putra Cup

MANILA, Philippines - The posh Sherwood Hills Golf Club is being spruced up in time for next month’s Putra Cup with top community developer Suntrust Properties, Inc. ensuring a successful staging of what has long been considered as the South East Asia Amateur Golf Team Championship in Trece Martirez, Cavite.

“It is not everyday that a club is given the privilege of being the venue for this kind of event. That’s why we are making sure the club will suit to international standards,” said club president Atty. Harrison Paltongan.

The par-72 signature Jack Nicklaus layout is undergoing upgrades not only to maintain the aesthetics beauty but also to make it more challenging for the competing field from eight participating nations for the June 24-30 playdate.

Aside from the course, Suntrust is likewise improving the clubhouse, which now boasts of a game room for other sports like billiards, darts and air hockey that players would surely enjoy while waiting for the completion of each round.

Sherwood Hills was chosen as Putra Cup host by organizer ASEAN Golf Federation, through secretary general Datuk Zain Muhamad Ismail, and the National Golf Association of the Philippines (NGAP) after a thorough club inspection recently.

Teams from Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Myanmar and Hong Kong, among others, are expected to compete in the 53rd staging of the Putra Cup (men), the seventh Santi Cup (ladies), the fifth Lion City Cup (boys juniors) and the first-ever Kartini Cup (girls juniors).

The Philippines is seeking to end a 17-year title drought in the event which pits some of the best Asian golfers. The Filipinos last won the men’s crown in 1996 on a team anchored on current Asian Tour campaigner Antonio Lascuña, Rey Pagunsan, Richard Sinfuego and Gerald Rosales.