The Philippine Golf Tour Qualifying School is venturing south for the first time, promising a spirited battle for spots in this year’s circuit, which includes 10 legs and a coveted berth in the season-ending Match Play Championship.
The 72-hole eliminations will be played March 5-8 at the South Pacific Golf and Leisure Estates in Davao City, which hosted the ninth leg of both the PGT and Ladies PGT last year.
Leading the charge in this year’s batch of hopefuls are many-time national team spearhead and multi-titled Aidric Chan, Lanz Uy, Luigi Wong and Ryan Monsalve.
They are all eager to demonstrate their readiness to step up and compete for substantial prize money in the upcoming Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc.-organized circuit, set to kick off on 12 March at the Apo Golf and Country Club, also in Davao.
Chan, who had previously partnered with pro Rey Pagunsan to win the Delimondo National Pro-Am Splendido Taal Golf Club in 2019, and his fellow amateurs, including Enzo Fregil, Marc Lu, Vince Lusterio Jr., Tom Marcelo, Francis Mendez, Edmar Salvador Jr., Niño Soberano, Airon Sorino, Sean Ty and Michael Uy, will be vying for the Top 30 slots against seasoned pros aiming to re-claim their Tour cards after falling short in the 2023 PGT season.
Among the experienced pros participating in the qualifiers are Rufino Bayron, Anthony Fernando, Enrico Gallardo, Johvanie Abaño, John Kier Abdon, Magno Arancon Jr., Kristoffer Arevalo, Leandro Bagtas, Ramil Bisera, Paul Echavez, Jelbert Gamolo, Josh Jorge, Mario Labajo, Joseph Labajo, Leonard Lofranco, Jonas Magcalayo, Ivan Monsalve, Carlos Packing and Elmer Saban.