THE National Golf Association of the Philippines yesterday postponed the National Stroke Play Championship supposed to start tomorrow at Manila Southwoods’ Legends course due to the alarming spike in COVID cases in Metro Manila and other parts of the country.
Last New Year’s eve, the IATF upgraded the NCR’s health status to Alert Level 3 due to increasing cases of infections that started on Christmas weekend, a development the NGAP felt can affect the welfare of 116 confirmed participants.
With the concurrence of Manila Southwoods, the NGAP made the call to move the event to a later date.
While the NGAP regrets the postponement of an event they have been looking forward to as a way to re-start their activities long stalled by the pandemic, local golf’s governing body said it was “the most responsible action to take at this time.”
“We would rather err on the side of caution and not contribute to any risk of transmission at our event,” the NGAP said in a statement signed by secretary general Bones Floro. “The NGAP board has therefore determined that the most responsible course of action to take at this time is to defer the tournament until the situation has improved.”
Before the IATF’s decision on the NCR status came, there was much anticipation for the event that was supposed to end the long lull on elite tournament play since January 2020.
There were 116 confirmed entries, including 24 in the women’s event, when registration ended with so many more on the wait-list.
“NGAP shares everyone’s hope that, with increased vigilance and cooperation, we can do our share to defeat this pandemic. We will post updates on our tournament schedule as details become available,” said Floro.
