Aboitiz Invitational tees off

CEBU, Philippines - The country’s golf spotlight shines on Cebu for the next three days as the Aboitiz Invitational 2012 tees off today at the shortened par-71-Cebu Country Club.

A total of 116 players, which includes some of the host club’s top amateurs, will be teeing off starting at 6:45 a.m.

Meanwhile, the team led by pro Glen Joyner of Australia bagged the title of the pro-am event, which served as appetizer for the tournament yesterday.

The team fired 20-under-par 51 to run away with the crown.

First runner-up honors went to the team of Filipino pro Zanie Boy Gialon, who played alongside Arturo Go, Wellington Lim, and Dr. Arnold Tan. They fired 16-under-par 55 strokes.

Second runner-up was the team of Singaporean pro Quincy Quek, which had amateurs Robin Sarmiento, Chris Walker, and this writer. The team made 15-under-par 56 strokes.

Andre Borromeo won a special prize for the longest drive on the 8th while Lalay Lava had the most accurate drive on the 16th.

Seeking a three-peat

Defending back-to-back champion Jay Bayron of Davao City will be gunning for his third straight title of the tournament.

Bayron’s quest for the title is expected to meet stiff opposition from the top Filipino pros as well as the best of the Asian Development Tour, who are vying for the top three slots in the order of merit at the end of the year to earn their card for the Asian Tour.

Currently, the Filipino is ranked second in the ADT order of merit, but he said that there are so many good players out there and the feat won’t be easy.

Bayron is also ranked fourth in the Philippine Golf Tour behind pacesetter Tony Lascuña, second ranked Elmer Salvador and third-ranked Miguel Tabuena, who is the youngest in the field at 17 years old.

Other notables among the local cast are Frankie Miñoza, Artemio Murakami, Mars Pucay, and Angelo Que.

Cebuano pro Charles ‘Chuckie’ Hong, who is currently number 13 in the order of merit, is also seeing action in the tournament.

Foreign bets

Ryan Bullock of Australia, winner of the PGM Terengganu Masters in Malaysia last May, heads the strong foreign challenge. He is also the leader of the ADT order of merit.

Other notables are Johor Masters champion Luke Bluemink, ADT Masters at A’Famosa winner Peter Richardson, Anthony Choat, also from Down Under, Hsu Chia Jen of Chinese Taipei, Jeremiah Kim of Malaysia and Guido Van der Valk of the Netherlands.

Amateurs

Veteran Eric Deen leads the cast of amateurs from the host club, who are hoping to get a crack at glory through this event.

Others seeing action are Gio Gandionco, Lloyd Jefferson Go, and Gen Nagai.

They will also be hoping to make the cut with the rest of the field, but will not win any part of the $65,000 pot money being amateurs. (FREEMAN)