In frustration, Montelibano leaves NGAP

Disgusted over what he termed as "useless stay" in the board of the National Golf Association of the Philippines (NGAP), Alex Montelibano resigned as director of the country’s governing golf body although he maintained that his decision was not in any way connected with the recent dispute between the NGAP and Wack Wack over the use of the Philippine Open label.

"That’s true, I resigned Thursday," said Montelibano, who actually wrote his (resignation) letter last Jan. 19 but only submitted it to the board when it convened last Thursday in Makati.

"I am so frustrated with what’s happening (in the NGAP). I believed that as the country’s governing body, it should get the various clubs together for a cause that will boost RP golf. But that’s not the case," he added.

"But I don’t want to blame anybody. However, since I used to be a member (of the board), I am also partly to blame," said Montelibano, who served the board for four years.

He also lamented the process in selecting the members of the national pool, saying it smacks of favoritism. "We have been trying to develop talents in the training pool, but after a series of (qualifying) tournaments, some players are taken out (of the pool) in favor of others," said Montelibano, citing one Ilonggo player who, for reasons he couldn’t understand, was booted out of the pool.

He added: "I felt that my stay there hasn’t served its purpose, I felt I’m useless here since I couldn’t do what I had wanted to do in the first place. All the clubs are not cooperating, and it’s incumbent for the NGAP to check why. But in three years, nothing happened."

However, Montelibano denied reports that his resignation has anything to do with the row between the NGAP and Wack Wack, which the other day decided to scrap the P17-M Wack Wack RP Open after an ugly tug-o-war with the golf body over the use of the tournament label.

In fact, Montelibano said the NGAP was right on its claim, citing its counterpart in the US, the USGA, which has the sole right to stage the US Open.

Saying they didn’t want to drag the club into a court battle, Wack Wack officials decided Thursday to cancel the WW-RP Open originally scheduled next month in disgust over the threat of the NGAP to go to court for incorporating the term "Philippine Open" in the title of the tournament.

The cancellation of the event, observers say, was a big blow not only to RP golf but also to the NGAP, which is now hardpressed to look for other venue, not to mention the funding for the foreign-laced tournament. Also affected were the country’s touring pros who were already looking forward to the big event with great enthusiasm.

Meanwhile, sources at the Eagle Ridge told The STAR yesterday that the club’s board is not too keen on hosting this year’s Philippine Open and has ruled out any negotiations with the NGAP with regard to the staging of Asia’s oldest and the country’s most prestigious golf event.