A CREW of young Turks, including locals who could well represent the future of Philippine pro golf, sets out for an early impact in their first foray in the big league as they vie in the ICTSI Negros Occidental Classic presented by More Power beginning tomorrow, Wednesday, at the Marapara Golf and Country Club in Bacolod.
Former national team standouts Gab Manotoc, Kristoffer Arevalo and Jonas Magcalayo, along with Russell Bautista, Josh Jorge, Leandro Bagtas and Elee Bisera, expect a rocky start to their pro debuts but all hope to rise to the challenge and give their careers a shot in the arm.
Hyun Ho Rho heads a mix of young and seasoned campaigners who made the grade in the recent Philippine Golf Tour Q-School in this week’s P2.25 million championship, with the 18-year-old Korean also to be sized up by the elite field after bagging low medal honors in the four-day event at Splendido Taal.
But while these new kids on the block pack the power and skills needed to pose a threat, the veterans — with their experience and sheer talent — are still tipped to dominate the 72-hole championship put up by ICTSI, which ushers in the new PGT season.
They include multi-titled Tony Lascuña, Clyde Mondilla, Jhonnel Ababa and Jay Bayron with former Order of Merit champion Jobim Carlos and leg winners Reymon Jaraula, Michael Bibat, Zanieboy Gialon and Ira Alido and legend Frankie Miñoza.
But focus will surely be on Manila-based Dutch Guido van der Valk, whose two victories in the seven-leg PGT edition last year and a dominant title run in last month’s The Country Club Invitational easily make him the marked player in the Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.-organized championship.
