Sta. Elena Cup gets going today

MANILA, Philippines - Two hundred seventy members of the exclusive Sta. Elena Golf Club in Cabuyao, Laguna bring in their respective guest partners for the 15th edition of the Sta. Elena Cup tournament presented by Lexus and Omega blasting off today.

The first batch of players will take a first crack at the two Lexus IS300 sedans offered as hole-in-one prizes on two of the par-3s of the well-manicured layout twice named among the best 100 courses in the world outside the United States by Golf Digest in 2005-06 and 2009-10.

With the pervading cool weather and the excellent course conditions, the 540-player field are bound to enjoy another great tournament week made possible by the support of Royal Caribbean, Baron Travel, L’Oreal and Sta. Elena Properties Inc.

Royal Caribbean and Baron Travel are offering a Caribbean Cruise for an ace on the 17th aside from the Lexus sedans and a Yamaha cart and Mizuno T-Zoid golf set put up by Masters Sports Corp. and Kart Plaza, respectively, on the second hole. If not won on the course, the Carribean Cruise and the T-Zoid set will be raffled off along with Omega watches and so many other special prizes during the awarding rites on Sunday.

Philippine Sports Commission chairman Richie Garcia is keeping his partnership with newly crowned Philippine Ladies Open champion Chihiro Ikeda as they shoot for another low gross plum.. They will be challenged by the tandems of JP Reyes-Abe Rosal, Iggy Clavecilla-Mari Hechanova, Clifford Lichaytoo-Carl Santos Ocampo and Bones Floro-King Sthemeier.

The bigwigs of Sta. Elena are also playing with Bryan Cockrell teaming up with Lexus Manila president Danny Isla, Bebo Quiros partnering with Tommy Lopez and Rico Tantoco pairing with Reto Klauser.

This year’s Sta. Elena Cup is also supported by Burger King and Mizuno with Everest Hills Memorial Park as scoreboard sponsor. The other sponsors are Camp John Hay, Sony Philippines, Mag-1 Oils, Vic Filters, Eagle One, Manila Beer Light, Chivas Regal, Novellino Wines and Selecta Ice Cream.