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THE
Philippine Airlines (PAL) Interclub seniors’ competition
begins Thursday at the Bacolod Golf and Country Club and
Negros Occidental Golf Club in Bacolod City.
And the
Canlubang Sugar Barons are picked to retain the title,
that is if they weather the rains.
The
defending seniors champions arrived in Bacolod Sunday to
hone early for what could be their third straight crown.
However,
it’s not only the other teams the Sugar Barons are
worried about, but the rains which have been falling for
three days.
“Mahirap
na nga maglaro sa Marapara [Negros Occidental Golf
Club], eh, mas lalong humirap dahil sa ulan. Wala
tayong magagawa with Mother Nature,” Canlubang
spokesman Rolly Viray told Greenside Chip.
“But, so
far, the team is feeling good in practice. Everybody is
confident of another win, and possibly another sweep
with another victory in the regular tournament next
week,” said Canlubang skipper Tony Olives.
J-Ro as
special guest
LADIES
Professional Golf Association (LPGA) star Jennifer
Rosales will hit the ceremonial ball to formally open
the Interclub’s regular men’s event on February 27.
After
the SBS Open at
Turtle Bay
in Kahuku, Hawaii, Rosales will play in the Field Open
in Honolulu from February 21 to 23 before flying to
Bacolod for the ceremonials.
“I’m
very excited and looking forward to travel to Bacolod,”
said Rosales via text message to Greenside Chip.
Rosales
said that she’ll probably come with coach Bong Lopez and
stay for a day or two. Then it’s back to the LPGA Tour,
where she will participate in the HSBC Women’s Champions
slated at the Tanah Merah Country Club in Singapore.
Juvic
candidate for JW Rising Star Award
Juvic
Pagunsan was named one of three candidates for the
prestigious Asian Rising Star Award of the Johnnie
Walker “Keep Walking” Golf Awards.
Named
alongside Pagunsan, the Asian Tour’s top rookie two
years ago, were Airil Rizman of
Malaysia
and Lee Sung of Korea.
The
awards are an effort of Johnnie Walker, in cooperation
with the Asian, European and Australasian Tours.
The
winners in the awards will be announced on March 1 at
the 2008 Johnnie Walker Classic. The $2.5-million
Johnnie Walker Classic will be played at the DLF Golf &
Country Club in Gurgaon, just outside
New Delhi,
from February 28 to March 2. It boasts of a star-studded
field, such as Vijay Singh, Australia’s Adam Scott,
Englishman Ian Poulter, Scot Colin Montgomerie and
Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn.
The
Asian Rising Star Award is an acknowledgment given to
the young Asian professional who has shown the most
promise, talent and commitment to golf the previous
year.
“Malaking
karangalan maisali diyan sa award na iyan. Hindi
lang naman para sa akin kung sakali, pati buong
Pilipinas kasama ko dito,” said Pagunsan, who is
coming off his victory at The Country Club Invitational,
where he pocketed P1.3 million.
The
awards, a highlight on the three tours’ calendar, was
started more than a decade ago by Johnnie Walker to
distinguish great progress achieved on the course and to
inspire others to pursue their dreams in the spirit of
Johnnie Walker’s “Keep Walking” slogan.
Cristina
Diezhandino, acting global brand director for Johnnie
Walker, also announced the candidates in the other
categories. They are China’s Liang Wen-Chong, winner of
the UBS Order of Merit with earning of $532,590;
Chapchai Nirat of Thailand and KJ Choi of Korea, for the
Johnnie Walker Asian Player of the Year; and Irishman
Rory McIlroy, German Martin Kaymer, American Tadd
Fujikawa and Argentinian Andres Romero for the Young
Player of the Year Award. |
