IT is not everyday that a not-so-average golfer gets to play with a local legend in the game (and a former champion at that). Greenside Chip got that privilege when it faced Rolly Viray one-on-one at the Legends course of the Manila Southwoods.

There was no title at stake. Neither was prize money involved. It so happened that Viray and Greenside Chip were the last two to arrive, and thus were paired in a friendly tournament organized by the Golf Managers League of the Philippines (GMLP) last week.

Viray was a seniors amateur champion. He beat guys like Iggy Clavecilla (now the reigning champ) and Francis Gaston (also a former winner).

Anyone who can see Viray play will swear he still has game. His drives off the tees are impeccable and his putting unbelievable. His caddy, Evelyn, even said that Viray putts like a regular Southwoods member.

In short, he is like a youngster trapped in a fiftysomething’s body.

“I’m just practising a rounder plane swing as advised by my friends. There’s nothing really new about it,” Viray told Greenside Chip.

Whatever that technique is, it sure was helping him get better. From a feel-good swing, he now has a meaner mechanical method in whacking the dimpled ball. And during his play, it showed.

Viray was one-under with one birdie and eight pars in nine holes. In the second nine, he only made an even par because of a double-bogey after a bad lie in the bunker. He compensated that miscue with two birdies to finish with a one-under 71.

“I was surprised myself. I had fever two days before our game and never really imagined to play this way,” he said.

The face-off was an enjoyable 18 holes. Instead of the usual no-talking, all-shotmaking day, Viray exchanged banters, even gave golf tips, and revealed to Greenside Chip his Canlubang team’s plan for the upcoming Philippine Airlines Interclub.

“The seniors’ squad of Canlubang is ready to defend the title. Already, my teammates Tommy Manotoc, Tony Olives, Bing Bunyi and myself are in. The club is having a tryout for the last slot,” said Viray, who played pro golf from 1986-1989 before reverting to amateur status.

The Lubao, Pampanga-native added: “Hopefully, we’ll get our third-consecutive crown this year.”

If Viray can bring the kind of game he dished out at Southwoods, Canlubang has a pretty good chance.

Mikee has PBA stint in mind for Harbour

A FIFTH straight championship. A stint in the pro league. No matter where, Mikee Romero steers his Harbour Centre, it’s one lofty goal after another for the busy basketball patron.

Pals take on familiar face in last date of elimination

Talk ’N Text coach Derrick Pumaren isn’t exactly happy with their situation. But at least, he said, “we’re still in control of our immediate goal.”

EXPECTATIONS are high former varsity player Patrick Aquino will be named the next head coach of the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons for the coming 70th University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) season which the state school is hosting.

SANTO TOMAS U (UST) goes for a sweep of the first round in women’s volleyball and the Tigresses meet no less than Far Eastern U in a rematch of last season’s University Athletic Association of the Philippines finals.

Carmona, Cavite—Defending champion Yupaporn Kawinkaporn of Thailand would certainly want no less than one good solid performance in the first round to get a little edge against the hometown bets when the Philippine Ladies Amateur Open starts Wednesday at the Manila Southwoods Golf and Country Club.

IT is not everyday that a not-so-average golfer gets to play with a local legend in the game (and a former champion at that). Greenside Chip got that privilege when it faced Rolly Viray one-on-one at the Legends course of the Manila Southwoods.

THE Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) will have a more active role in this year’s Palarong Pambansa, which the government sports agency brands as a major component in its revitalized grassroots program.

OUT of the thousands, few were chosen to hopefully represent the Philippine youth team in several international competitions, like the 2010 Junior Olympics.