LOCAL favorite Bones Floro appeared to have the upperhand because of his knowledge of the course, but he knows it won’t be a guarantee for him to dominate the centerpiece Class A division of the third MercedesTrophy National Final, which tees off Monday at the world-class Sta. Elena Golf Club in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

Floro, a single-handicapper and last year’s club champion besides being the former golf director of Sta. Elena, acknowledges the fact that he will be facing stiff competition with fellow Mercedes-Benz owners such as Philippine Sports Commission’s Richie Garcia, Manila Southwoods’ Alfredo Mendoza and Jaime Fernandez.

“Garcia, Mendoza and Fernandez are no push-overs because they are all single-digit handicappers too.  It will be tough,” Floro said.

The four are among the 170 loyal Mercedes-Benz owners from the full field of 216 participants, including the top 10 from the Bill Shaw Golf Classic and the Santa Elena Cup, who are vying for slots for the CATS Motors-Philippine Team which will be official representative to the nine-country Regional Final of Daimler AG in Australia on July 30 and August 1.

The three division winners, runners-up from each division, except in the sports and guests, plus the country captain will fly to the Regional Final—via business class courtesy of Philippine Airlines (PAL)—to Brisbane before making a connecting flight to Sydney.

Among the notables are Jimmy Bautista of Philippine Airlines, Dave Balangue of SGV, Polly Nazareno of PLDT-Smart and Rico Tantoco of Rustan’s. 

The main field will use the Stableford scoring, while sponsors’, guests’ and ladies’ divisions will play under the System 36 format.

Organizers accommodated many participants because Sta. Elena has graciously allowed the use of its 27 holes, according CATS Motors chairman Greg Yu and president Felix Ang.

Besides trophies, CATS Motors PR and tournament director Emy Arcilla said hole-in-one prizes are three Mercedes-Benz C-Class C-180s, two Canon EOS Digital Cameras—1D-MK III and EOS 40D—and a P250,000 Jean Richards Swiss watch from Chronos.

In addition, Arcilla said, CATS Motors will be conducting free service checkups while the players are on the course, plus test-drive of new Mercedes-Benz cars after the game.

PLDT Business Solutions-Smart Infinity, Philippine Airlines and Sta. Elena are presenters, while Arrow Shirts, Canon Philippines, Chronos, Coors Light, Johnnie Walker and Seaboard Eastern Insurance are major sponsors. Adrian Flores

MERCEDESTROPHY ON TODAY

LOCAL favorite Bones Floro appeared to have the upperhand because of his knowledge of the course, but he knows it won’t be a guarantee for him to dominate the centerpiece Class A division of the third MercedesTrophy National Final, which tees off Monday at the world-class Sta. Elena Golf Club in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

Pressed for time for Jones Cup

Junel Baculi, head coach for the national team to the William R. Jones Cup tournament in Taiwan this July, is hard-pressed to merely invite players to join the team and would no longer hold a large-scale tryout.

REIGNING champion Ronnie Alcano recovered from three racks down to nip Liu Haitao of China, 3-2, for his second straight and a spot in the next stage of the 2008 World 8-Ball Championship at the Amir Billiards Club in Fujairah City, United Arab Emirates.

WITH the return of Jason Castro and Al Vergara and the acquisition of Boyet Bautista, many thought that Tyrone Tang will be just playing a support role for Harbour Centre in the Philippine Basketball League (PBL) Lipovitan Amino Sports Cup.

MANILA remained the only undefeated team in the Baseball Philippines Series III tournament.

This, after the Sharks beat the previously undefeated Antipolo Pilgrims, 11-5, Sunday for its fourth victory in the tournament played at the Rizal Memorial Ballpark.

The flights of infancy

AS a young boy, Noli Eala was left to fend for himself. Many of his ideas are products of his childhood when he’d create his own games. A shopping bag was a makeshift hoop with a monopoly board as the backboard. Rulers and pencils served as ramps for motorcycles where his matchboxes were micro versions of Evel Knievel.