Thursday, January 08, 2009 Negrenses figure in banner year for RP golf By Henry C. Villalva
THE likes of amateur standouts Anya Tanpinco and Mia Piccio, as well as former amateur champion JR Tanpinco, are among the names credited for having accomplished a banner year for Philippine golf last year.
Tanpinco and Ferdie Aunzo's victories in the Philippine Amateur Golf Championships, together with Rufino Bayron's stirring triumph in a pro tournament at Valley, highlighted a banner season for amateur golf. The season likewise marked the emergence of a number of players from the developmental pool.
RP amateur standouts actually scored 63 wins, three times more than what was recorded previously since the ICTSI golf stable formed through the initiative of ICTSI top honcho Ricky Razon tallied 48 victories in 2007, said RP team coach Bong Lopez, the man at the helm of the ICTSI golf program.
Backing up Lopez is last year's amateur runner-up JR Tanpinco, who joined the coaching staff late last year, together with Nestor Mendoza, Cassius Casas Joel Altea III and Carmelette Villaroman.
Meanwhile, Mia Piccio, who recently signed up with the University of Florida Gators for a two-year contract, tallied three victories for the nationals to add to the triumphs of Aunzo, Bayron, Tanpinco, Chichero Ikeda, Cyna Rodriguez and Dottie Ardina.
Aunso had seven titles; Bayron, Tanpinco, Ikeda and Jobin Carlos had five each; Rodriguez four, Bino dela Paz and Louise Manalo also three each; while Bambee dela Paz and Sarah Ababa had two apiece to complete the haul.
Lopez also pointed out that 2008 was special because of the accomplishment of players in the developmental pool who managed to earn victories, including Ababa (Penang amateur), Manalo (Sutra Open, Kau Sai Chau Amateur and Singapore Junior Championship), Bino dela Paz (Jungolf Tat Filipinas and Canlubang), Carlos (O'Donnel Junior Championship and Interschool championship), BJ Miñosa, JR Quiatchon and Sheryl Villavicencio.
