Guido van der Valk eyes to capitalize on his strong start in the first two legs of the Philippine Golf Tour in Davao as he prepares to slug it out with the country’s top pros and rising stars and a host of foreign players in the ICTSI Caliraya Springs Championship slated 9 to 12 April in Cavinti, Laguna.
The Dutchman is keen on having a swing at the crown after demonstrating remarkable consistency at the beginning of the season, with runner-up finishes at both the Apo Golf Classic and the Rancho Palos Verdes Championship.
That positioned him as a contender in the upcoming P2.5 million tournament to be played at the Arnold Palmer-designed layout.
That includes defending champion Tony Lascuña, The competition is intensified with the presence of top players like Johnnel Ababa, Angelo Que, Clyde Mondilla, Reymon Jaraula, Michael Bibat, Keanu Jahns, Jay Bayron, Nilo Salahog, Rupert Zaragosa, Ira Alido, Randy Garalde and former champion Zanieboy Gialon.
The tournament also highlights the title aspirations of promising young talents, like Sean Ramos, who finished tied seventh finish at Palos Verdes, Aidric Chan, Kristoffer Arevalo, Josh Jorge, Lanz Uy, Ivan Monsalve, Jonas Magcalayo and Ryan Monsalve, who placed fifth at Apo, all vying for supremacy against their more experienced competitors.
Adding international flair to the third leg of this year’s circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc. and supported by PGTI official apparel Kampfortis Golf are Collin Wheeler, Drew Proctor, Min Hyeok Yu, Kang Chonkoo, Tae Won Kim, Daiya Suzui and Hyun Ho Rho.
Others vying in the event, to be held simultaneously with the 54-hole Ladies PGT, are Jobim Carlos, Fidel Concepcion, Marvin Dumandan, Mars Pucay, Elmer Salvador, Ferdie Aunzo, Art Arbole and Gerald Rosales.