|
CARITO
VILLAROMAN assured himself of another stint in
the Philippine Open next week after topping the 36-hole
qualifying tournament conducted by the National Golf
Association of the Philippines (NGAP) with a closing
one-over-par 73 played in another sun-baked Air Force
course of the Villamor Golf Club in Pasay City.
Despite
the summer heat that batter the players all day,
Villaroman started out strong with two birdies on the
second and sixth holes and a bogey on seventh. His
not-so-impressive back nine, however, led to three
bogeys and a lone birdie on No. 11. He closed out with
an even 144 to take one of the 10 slots for the 92nd
edition of the RP Open, the oldest national championship
in Asia, set at Wack Wack’s fabled East course from
April 3 to 6.
Amateur
Erwin Vinluan, the co-leader Tuesday, shot a two-over
74, this time for a 145 total, good for second place.
Ronald
Pactolerin, brother of the more celebrated pro Robert,
checked in at third with the day’s best score of
two-under 70 for 146, followed by Jessie Balasabas
(72-148), Paul Echavez (73-149), Edwin Sanchez (73-149),
Villamor local talent Jan Coup Tambogon (78-150), Zanie
Boy Gialon (73-151), and Vic Santia (74-151).
Ronnie
Torrecampo (75-152) clung on to 10th position after
defeating Jun Bernis (75-152), Rolando Marabe (76-152)
and Joel Pilac (76-152) in a playoff for the last slot.
J-Ro,
Dorothy take another shot
JENNIFER
ROSALES and Dorothy Delasin again go for their first
titles in the current Ladies Professional Golf
Association (LPGA) season when they strut their wares in
the Safeway International, presented by Coca-Cola, which
starts Thursday at the Superstition Mountain Golf and
Country Club in Arizona.
Two
months after bagging the Women’s World Cup of Golf crown
in South Africa, Rosales and Delasin are still looking
for that ego-boosting victory in the LPGA.
In the
Safeway event, they will be eyeing a bigger share of the
$1.5-million prize money but they have to contend
against 144 players, including defending champion Lorena
Ochoa.
Rosales
is looking forward to her stint in Arizona because of
the big possibility that her coach, Bong Lopez, who is
currently in the US, might watch her play.
“I hope
coach Bong [Lopez] could squeeze in time to be with me
here. I know, for a fact, that he has other matters to
attend to. But if he does show up, that would be
great,” Rosales told the BusinessMirror.
Que in
the hunt
MALAYSIA’S Danny Chia has virtually sealed his second
appearance at the British Open after carding a second
successive three-under-par 69 at the International Final
Qualifying-Asia at the Serapong course of the Sentosa
Golf Club in Sentosa, China, on Wednesday.
Angelo
Que of the
Philippines
had four birdies and three bogeys for a one-under-par 71
and a 140 card that put him in a tie with Lam Chih Bing
of
Singapore
for third place. However, the three are still awaiting
the completion of play Wednesday. The top-four
finishers will qualify for the British Open set at Royal
Birkdale in July. |
