Tim Cone was at the halfway house at Alabang Country Club waiting for the start of the afternoon session of the 35th Mango Tee Tuesday.
He was alone, munching on Lays with Coke Zero in one hand, and his mobile phone in the other.
He was busy scrolling on his phone.
“The wind is getting stronger,” Cone said as long-time partner Fausto Preysler joined him at the table. The 25-time Philippine Basketball Association champion coach loves to play golf and is happy to attend the revival of the annual tournament after being shelved for two years due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Cone and Preysler go a long way.
The pair won the second Mango Tee tournament.
“I was a beginner with a 36-stroke handicap. I remember breaking 100 for the first time. I think I shot a 96,” Cone said.
He said he now carries a 21.
His partner, Preysler, plays to a nine-handicap.
“I have not been playing well lately. I was asked to play for Manila Golf Club in the Philippine Airlines Interclub but I already begged off,” Preysler said.
Both Cone and Preysler were to tee off on the 10th hole alongside former PBA star Vince Hizon and Kathy Ong.
Ong came in and talked about how her game has deteriorated.
“I’m hitting the ball so bad. I don’t know what to do,” Ong told Cone and Preysler.
When Ong told them that she’s carrying a 36-handicap, Cone and Preysler could not believe what they heard.
“Really, I played yesterday and I had two double pars,” Ong recounted.
The talk shifted to the windy day.
Cone said he played recently at Ayala Greenfields in Laguna where the winds make conditions at Alabang calm.
“It was hard to keep your stance and the ball was dropping off the tee,” he said.
Having steered Barangay Ginebra to a nerve-wracking Game 7 win over Bay Area Dragons, the Mango Tee is a welcome respite for the mercurial coach.
“After all, we came here for the raffle,” Preysler said.
