Dy makes it!

MARK Dy is now a professional golfer.

A week after leading Cebu Country Club (CCC)to back-to-back men’s titles in the PAL Interclub championship division, Dy finished at joint 29th in the Philippine Golf Tour Qualifying School at the Splendido Taal Golf Club, earning a spot in the ICTSI PGT Circuit that will kick off on March 20 with the Sherwood Hills Classic.

Dy, who fired a two-under 70 in the final round of the PAL tournament, shot a 79 in all four rounds for a 316 for a joint 29th.

Guido Van der VAlk of the Netherlands topped the field with a 286, while Japan’s Tomokazu Yoshinaga and Toru Nakajima shared second with 288. Former national team member Jude Eustaqio posted the best score among locals with 298.

Aside from Dy, three other amateurs made the cut—Chris Mamamaril (306), Lawrence Celestino and Mike Yee.

“I am happy that I made it in the pro tour,” said Dy, who admitted he didn’t really plan on becoming a pro but only thought of it while preparing for the Interclub.

“I realized that my game has improved and I’ve been training a lot as part of our preparation for the PAL Interclub. That’s when I thought why not also try my luck with the pro golf tournament,” said Dy, an 11-year veteran for CCC in the PAL Interclub.

He was joined by CCC teammate LJ Go, who failed to make the cut.

Dy also thanked former teammate Charles Hong, the first Cebuano professional golfer who won the ICTSI Pueblo de Oro Championships in Cagayan De Oro City last year.

“It was Chuckie (Hong) who opened the doors for Cebuanos and motivated us to join the league of professional golfers,” said Dy, who thanked the support of his wife Davelyn.

Dy started preparing for this since October, when he started training for the PAL Interclub. He also said he got a boost of confidence after finishing among the top 30 golfers in the 2013 Philippine Amateur Golf Championship last January at the Wack-Wack Golf and Country Club.

“It was an international field. I was playing with my CCC team mates and we were up against strong national teams from different countries in Asia like India, Singapore, Malaysia, Korea and Japan and making it to the top 30 gave me a sense of fulfillment,” Dy said.

Now that he has joined the pros, Dy will be leaving the PAL Interclub. However, he said that his teammates gave him full support and that after 11 years with CCC, it’s time for him to move to the next level.

“I just want to experience what it is like to be playing in a bigger field against the country’s top golfers,” Dy said.