P3 M at stake in RP Masters

The Philippine Masters, one of the country's four major championships, will serve as the first full-scale golf tournament for the local pros in almost nine months when the P3 million event is revived on May 4-7 at the Villamor Golf Club.

Although some of the local pros were able to join a field made up mostly of foreigners in the Casino Filipino Open last February, the RP Masters is the only local tournament slated so far after Philip Morris Phils. Inc. withdrew its sponsorship of the local golf tour early this year and the Professional Golf Association of the Phils. still trying to lure corporate sponsors to support the circuit.

Cassius Casas, winner of the local Order of Merit for the last three years, former champion Rodrigo Cuello and rookie Gerald Rosales have already confirmed their participation while former three-time Masters champion Robert Pactolerin is also expected see action.

Organizers of the event said they are awaiting the confirmation of top Filipino shotmaker Frankie Miñoza, winner of the Masters when it was last staged in 1998, who is currently campaigning in the Japan PGA Tour.

There are also 30 players from nine countries in the cast so far.

"We want to celebrate the new millennium by holding one of the country's most important golf tournaments despite the hard times," said Col. Nereo Andolong, one of the founders of the event and chairman of the organizing committee.

For this reason, this year's Masters has been dubbed as The Millennial golf tournament.

Also at the head of the preparations for the Masters are the Villamor Golf Council head by Lt. Gen. Willie C. Florendo, the commanding general of the Philippine Air Force, Department of Transportation and Communication Secretary Vicente Rivera and Brig. Gen. Filamer Artajo (ret.), chairman of the Masters management committee.

Florendo, Artajo and Andolong were among key people in the government and the golf industry who attended the launching of the tourney at the Villamor clubhouse yesterday.

The others were National Golf Association of the Philippines head Rod Feliciano, National Telecommunications director Joseph Santiago, Games and Amusement Board chair Domingo Cepeda and Mel Dizon of pro-am sponsor Mitsubishi Motors. The traditional pro-am will be held on May 3.

The course is being spruced-up to attain the championship quality needed for a major competition like the Masters, according to tournament chairman Tony Fernando.

Fernando added that the course will be re-holed in consideration of the television coverage and also the expected huge turnout of spectators.