With four top guns competing overseas, Iloilo leg champ Rupert Zaragosa, The Country Club Invitational back-to-back titlist Guido van der Valk and defending champion Jerson Balasabas gain the top billing in the ICTSI Villamor Philippine Masters.
Five years after its back-to-back staging following its revival in 2017, the ICTSI Philippine Masters returns to its home next week at the Villamor Golf Club.
The last time the tournament was held at Villamor, Tony Lascuna emerged champion in the Villamor Match Play event last year.
Clyde Mondilla won the revival of the Masters in 2017 while Balasabas prevailed the following year.
The Phl Masters was not staged in 2019 but the organizing Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. put the Villamor Golf Club back into its calendar after the pandemic as host of the first Match Play Invitational.
No less than the country’s top pros have marveled at the transformation of the VGC into one true test of golf following its facelift.
Balasabas and van der Valk, along with Iloilo leg runaway champion Rupert Zaragosa and former Masters champions Frankie Miñoza and Robert Pactolerisn headline the Phl Masters field.
The P2-million event also drew Ababa, Reymon Jaraula, Michael Bibat, Joenard Rates, Jay Bayron, Marvin Dumandan, Keanu Jahns, Albin Engino, Enrico Gallardo, Fidel Concepcion and 2018 OOM winner Jobim Carlos.
Caliraya Springs leg champion Tony Lascuña, last week’s ICTSI Luisita Championship winner Miguel Tabuena, Bacolod leg titlist Ira Alido and Mondilla won’t be around next week.
Lascuña is playing in Taiwan, Tabuena competes in the US Open qualifier while Alido and Mondilla will see action in the kickoff leg of this year’s Asian Development Tour slated for 25 to 28 in Phuket, Thailand.
Also in the field are young guns Gabriel Manotoc, Josh Jorge, Jonas Magcalayo, Elee Bisera and Korean PGT Q-School topnotcher Rho Hyun Ho.
