The Philippine Open, the country’s premier golf championship, will be held Dec. 15-18 with Asia’s oldest golfing event making its return to the Valley Golf Club in Antipolo after nearly two decades. Elmer Salvador will try to defend the crown he won over a stellar field last year at Mt. Malarayat Golf and Country Club in Lipa, Batangas but will face a highly charged field coming off a year-long campaign on the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour.
Registration is ongoing with fees pegged at P3,000 for local pros and $100 for foreign entries, according to the organizing National Golf Association of the Philippines. (For details, contact NGAP (Susan Facundo) at 7065926 or 0917-5607074).
Salvador held off Dutchman Guido Van der Valk in the final round to chalk up a three-stroke victory last year, capping a banner season that saw the Dabawenyo shotmaker also ran away with the Order of Merit crown on the local circuit.
Former national champion Mhark Fernando and Jhonnel Ababa are also expected to join the hunt for the crown as they make their debut on the pro tour. Valley last hosted a pro tournament in 2009 with Salvador outlasting Ababa then pulling off a two-stroke victory over Gene Bondoc with an eight-under 208 total.
The traditional pro-am tournament, featuring the leading pros and officials of the event’s sponsors and guests, will be held Dec. 14.
Like last year, the NGAP is pushing through with the Open at the end of the year although it will not be a part of the Asian Tour for the second straight time. [pr]