Rosales powers Wack Wack
to Pro-Am crown

Gerald Rosales began his campaign on a high note yesterday as he and amateurs Macario Tiu, Romulo Santos and Matthew Manotoc of Team Wack Wack captured the overall team championship of the Pro-Am at the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club.
       Rosales, who is seeking redemption this year after finishing second to eventual 2005 winner Adam Le Vesconte, and his partners toured the challenging East course with a 15-under-par 57 aggregate to beat 22 other squads.
       The one-day tournament, copresented by International Container Terminal Services Inc. and Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., served as the fitting appetizer to the 90th Philippine Open which starts tomorrow.
       Crowne Plaza, Globe Telecom, Konica Minolta, Motorola, Philcopy, Posi-Track, Srixon, Sunbolt, U-Bix Corp. and 3636 Golf are also providing major support to the event organized by the Asian Tour.
       Two entries from the National Golf Association of the Philippines (NGAP), bannered by USA’s Jason Knutzon and England’s Chris Rodgers, also made the grade in Pro-Am that is actually the 19th leg of the Asian Tour.
       Knutzon, whose biggest career victory was in the 2004 Macau Open, paired beautifully with Mizuno’s Lovell Gopez, Raymund Sangil and Paolo Kagalingan as they pieced together a 13-under 59, good for a runner-up finish for Team NGAP 1.
       Team NGAP 2, composed of Rodgers plus Jun Ibay, Ray and Ricky Velasco, matched par with the first group with 59 but lost via countback.
       Earlier in the day, the President’s husband Mike Arroyo and Wack Wack chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr. fired the ceremonial drives that formally opened the RP Open, Asia’s prestigious national golf championship.
       Meanwhile, organizers announced that a “Meet the Players” press conference will be held at 1:30 p.m. today at the Media Center of the golf club.
       Defending champion Adam Le Vesconte of Australia and noted Philippine bets Rosales and Angelo Que are expected to attend the gathering.