Manila Southwoods, one of the country’s premier golf clubs, is fielding four members of the Philippine team and a Korean national training squad member in its bid to extend its domination in the 72nd Fil-Am Invitational team championships slated in the first week of December.
Kristoffer Arevalo, who will anchor the country’s campaign in the Nomura Cup this month, leads the Carmona-based squad. He will be joined by Aidric Chan, Carl Corpus and Gab Manotoc who went to college in the United States.
The team’s newest addition is 18-year-old Jeff Jung who hopes to follow in the footsteps of former Southwoods member Tom Kim, a two-time winner in the PGA Tour at the age of 20.
Southwoods is the prohibitive favorite in the Fil championship division.
The roster was announced by non-playing captain Thirdy Escano.
“We’re just playing for second place,” conceded businessman Rodel Mangulabnan, a key member of the Forest Hills squad.
Sixteen-year-old Edison Tabalin, the Singha Thailand Junior world champion, is reinforcing Forest Hills whose lineup includes Rocky Co, Gus Pacheco and Joshua Buenaventura.
The Antipolo-based has played second fiddle to Southwoods in the last several stagings but general manager Raymond Bunquin is not losing hope.
“We always field our strongest team and if all falls into place then we will be there,” Bunquin said. “Our guys practice and prepare not only for this event but on a weekly basis. Our long-time captain Raffy Garcia is always there for guidance.”
Southwoods also has a formidable team in the Am division led by Josh Jorge, Leandro Bagtas, Lanz Uy and Masaichi Otake, all members of the 2021 champion squad. Reinforcing them are Shinichi Suzuki and Marc Lu.
A total of 240 teams or 1,200 players are entered in the annual tournament spread over two weeks at Camp Hohn Hay Golf Club and Baguio Country Club. The number is near the pandemic level in 2019 when 156 teams played.
The seniors’ event, featuring the keenly-awaited showdown between Manila Southwoods and Luisita, will be played 26 November to 1 December.
The regular tournament is scheduled for 6 to 11 December.
The 72nd edition of the event is held in partnership with Baguio Country Club, Camp John Hay, The Manor, The Forest Lodge and Le Chef.
It is presented by 3K Rock Engineering and Construction Corp., Toyota, Boysen and Columbia Sportswear. The major sponsors are Palm Grove, Brittany Corp. and Asiatraders Corp. while minor sponsors are Time Cargo Logistics, Lola Nena’s, K&G, Rudy Project, JTen Sports Inc., Januarius Holdings, Beer Below Zero and Tee Sports Gear.
Hole sponsors are Spes Construction Inc., Noah Business Application, and Laus Group of Companies while media partners are Daily Tribune and The Perfect Drive.
