Monday, December 04, 2006 57th Fil-Am invitational tour opens
THE Filipino and American (Fil and Am) Invitational Regular Championship reels off Monday with teams in flights B and C teams taking the first crack at the Baguio Country Club (BCC) and Camp John Hay Golf Club (CJHGC).
The competition starts at 6 a.m. Monday to kick off the major tournament with 17 teams playing in the Filipino division flight B and 18 in flight C and 16 and 18 in the American division flights B and C, respectively.
The Fil and Am regular championships and flights A start their quests for team and individual honors begin Wednesday.
Nike Golf Pacsports is the heavy favorite to sweep the Fil and Am championship division titles again.
Competitions in the Fil and Am flights D, E and F were held during the seniors' championship last week.
"This is it. We are happy to see them back," tournament committee co-chairmen Anthony de Leon and Jeric Hechnova said.
"Not only that," added de Leon, who is also the BCC general manager. "To all our participants, welcome and good luck," he said.
"As we stage our tournament, I would like to express our thanks to all our sponsors," said Hechnova, who is also the Camp John Hay general manager.
Expected to provide the challenges to Nike Golf Pacsports' bids are Manila Southwoods, Del Monte, Mizuno and Eastridge Golf and Country.
A team composed of young South Korean players will make its debut on Wednesday in the American championship division.
The hitting of the traditional ceremonial drives at both clubs officially launched the event.
Those who did the honors were Baguio Representative Mauricio Domogan, acting Mayor Reinaldo Bautista, lawyer Luis Sison, Nanette Filler of BCC and Nelson Eslao of John Hay.
"Then the BCC management officially blessed the room Capitol Hills Golf Club player Victor Roman used during the seniors' tournament," Filler said.
"We did this in his memory. Roman, the younger brother of regular player of veteran competitors Boy and Ding, died of myocardial infarction and respiratory arrest at the Baguio Medical Center during the seniors competition last week," she added. (PL)
