RP bets off to Thailand

Eighteen of the country’s leading players are leaving for Thailand today to compete in the Asia Pacific Junior Open 2001 slated for this week. Edgardo "Tito Boy" Cantada, president of the Philippine Junior Golf Federation, is heading the delegation while his son Gerard, fresh from a rigid training course on coaching in California, is the team’s coach.

Among the veteran international campaigners seeking team and individual honors in the tournament are Jenz Tecson, Kevin Lachica and brothers Paolo and Frederick Garcia.

The tournament will be played April 17-20 at the Rose Garden Country Resort, Golf Course and Cultural Center in Sampran, Nakorn Phathom.

"We had a very strong field when we hosted the inaugural event last year at Wack Wack," said the elder Cantada yesterday. "And we expect another tough competition this year for all juniors in the region."

"The guys are ready," added coach Cantada, who arrived last Thursday from a coaching course stint in Palm Springs under top teaching pro Chris Walkey, a former certified instructor of the David Leadbetter Golf Academy.

Aside from the Philippines and Thailand, other junior and national associations from Australia, Malaysia, China, Guam, the United States, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Sarawak and South Korea are playing.

"The annual event is open to all junior golf associations and individuals. And it is free from politics," said Cantada, the tournament’s founding president.

"Junior golf associations from different countries host the tournament on a rotation basis," he added. Irawan Panitvong, a former professor from Thailand, is the events secretary general.