PGTI, PGF launch Intercollegiate Golf Tour

MANILA, Philippines — Student-athlete golfers gained another platform to showcase their fine swing in the fairways and accuracy on the greens as the Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc., (PGTI) and Philippine Golf Foundation (PGF) launch the ICTSI Intercollegiate Golf Tour on June 16 at the Sherwood Hills Golf Club in Cavite.

Twelve collegiate squads banner the cast in the historic tourney aimed at establishing the foundation in making golf an official sport for student-athletes, with the possibility of formal scholarships down the road.

“The ultimate goal is to get student-athletes into golf and for golf to be recognized as an official sport by schools,” said PGF president Arsenic Laurel, who was joined by chairman Cesar Buenaventura along with Pilipinas Golf general manager Colo Ventosa and international business manager Mohamed Shariz in the press launch yesterday at the Solaire Entertainment City in Parañaque.

“We are creating clear pathways for Filipino collegiate golfers to grow, compete and possibly to represent our country whether as part of the national team or on the professional stage.”

UAAP schools Ateneo, La Salle, University of the Philippines, Santo Tomas and National U lead the cast with NCAA’s St. Benilde, Lyceum of the Philippines University and Mapua University. Enderun Colleges, La Salle-Dasmariñas and University of the Cordilleras complete the cast.

Format is stroke play with three golfers to play and two to count.