Pinoys try to end Putra Cup title slump

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines hopes to draw the best from its roster headed by pint-sized Rupert Zaragosa and reinforced by two Fil-Am recruits as it tries to end a long title spell in the Putra Cup which unfolds today at Sherwood Hills Golf and Country Club in Cavite.

The Filipino golfers have not won since Tony Lascuña led a sweep of the individual and team titles in Myanmar in 1996, either faltering early or losing steam to pile up setbacks after setbacks in the last 16 years of the annual event also known as the Southeast Asian Amateur Golf Team Championship.

But skipper Carito Villaroman, a former Junior World champion, feels the country is due for victory on a team built around Zaragosa, Jobim Carlos, an MVP Sports Foundation scholar at the University of San Francisco, and Fil-Ams Rico Hoey and Jonathan delos Reyes.

“We have a very promising set of players, a very promising team overall,” said Villaroman. “My instructions would be for them (Filipinos) to play it a hole at a time and keep themselves involved in the process of hitting the best shot that they can hit.”

But Thailand also looks formidable with Saksansin Poon, No. 65 in the world amateur ranking, and Boonman Danthai spearheading the defending champion’s bid in the 72-hole, four-to-play, three-to-count format event.

Singapore, winner in 2011 in Hong Kong, is also tipped to contend for the crown behind veteran campaigner Jerome Ng, while Malaysia, bannered by Gavin Green, is also out to end a long title drought in the event.

Villaroman disclosed that Zaragosa will anchor the hosts’ opening round bid, recognizing the latter’s form and familiarity of the ravine-filled layout where he reigned in the recent Philippine Amateur Closed Championship.

Zaragosa tallied an 11-under 267 in that event, highlighting his romp with a six-under 66 in the third day to beat Hoey by eight strokes. 

Green, the University of New Mexico standout in the US NCAA, is the man to watch for Malaysia, considered as another title threat after perennial favorite Thailand, winner of 10 of the last 16 titles.

The event is backed by the PLDT Amateur Golf Tour, PSC, POC, Philippine Golf Foundation, DOT, Asia Brewery, Turf Company, Sligo, Ping, Intramachineries Doosan, Suntrust, Crimson Hotel and Golf Depot.