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ASIAN
Tour stalwart Artemio Murakami has earned his major
debut after finishing as joint medalist in the US Open
sectional qualifying in Japan on Monday.
The
Filipino produced a heroic birdie in his last hole in
the 36-hole qualifier at Ibaraki Country Club’s West
Course in Osaka, to clinch his ticket to the year’s
second major at Torrey Pines, San Diego, from June 12 to
15.
Murakami, winner of last year’s Iskandar Johor Open in
Malaysia on the Asian Tour, carded matching rounds of
three-under-par 69 to share top spot with Australian
veteran Craig Parry. A total of 12 players teed up for
two spots.
“I’m
looking forward to my first US Open at Torrey Pines,
where I have played many times previously when I was a
junior,” said the 24-year-old Murakami.
His
success at qualifying is a huge boost for Philippine
golf as earlier this season, his compatriot Angelo Que
earned a ticket to July’s British Open.
Former
Asian Tour No. 1 Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand missed
out on a top-two spot by one stroke after rounds of 69
and 70 and earned second alternate status via a playoff.
China’s
Liang Wen-chong, the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit
champion last season, shot rounds of 69 and 72 to finish
three shots outside the qualifying mark, while
Thailand’s Prayad Marksaeng withdrew after an opening
72.
Murakami’s success was commendable as he had to deal
with a mob of Japanese media and spectators who were
following his group that included Japanese teenage
sensation Ryo Ishikawa, who carded a two-day total of
143.
In the
first round, the bubbly Filipino enjoyed a bogey-free
outing with three birdies on the card to end the morning
session in fourth place. He roared out of the blocks in
style in the afternoon’s second round, shooting four
birdies in his outward nine.
But with
the finish line in sight, a nervous Murakami dropped
shots at the 15th and 17th holes to slip out of the
lead. However, he steadied his nerves and produced an
immaculate chip to three feet for a closing birdie,
which was enough to seal top spot with Parry.
“My goal
today was to avoid bogeys. But I missed putts from seven
feet on the 15th and 17th holes and, to be honest, I was
ready to give up after those two bogeys. So I am really
happy to make birdie at the last hole to get a spot,”
said Murakami.
Further
sectional qualifying will be held on June 2, with 12 to
be played across the United States and one in England.
Becierra,
2 others advance to quarters
DANTE BECIERRA continued to stamp his class in the
Malaysia Amateur Open match play event, blasting
Mitchell Slorach of Singapore, 7 and 6, to barge into
the quarterfinal round at the Kelab Golf Negara Subang
Club in Malaysia Tuesday.
Miko
Alejandro and Peter Villaber also hurdled their
respective rivals in contrasting fashions as the ICTSI-backed
bets made it three-for-three in the head-to-head duels
in Malaysia’s premier amateur championship.
Becierra,
the Hong Kong Amateur Open winner, earlier disposed of
Malaysian M. Ilya Jamil, 6 and 5, and will meet Andik
Mauludin for a spot in the semifinal round.
The
Indon downed local bet Ahmad Shakil, 4 and 2, in their
last 16 duel.
Official
partnership sealed
THE
Mercedes-Benz Tour and International Container Terminal
Services Inc. (ICTSI) have entered into an official
partnership whereby the country’s leading port operator
would be the title sponsor of the $50,000 ICTSI-Mt.
Malarayat Championship, set from July 2 to 5 at the
Mount Malarayat Golf and Country Club in
Lipa City, Batangas.
The
agreement marks a significant sponsorship for ICTSI,
which continues to support professional and amateur golf
in the Philippines for the last three years. Although
nothing is final at the moment, the port giant is also
planning a 10-leg professional circuit in response to
the Filipino pros’ clamor for an avenue to showcase
their talents.
“This is
an exciting new initiative for us to [title] sponsor an
event and one that we are really looking forward to.
IctSi has a desire to see professional golf in the
Philippines make great strides [forward] and by
sponsoring the Mt. Malarayat Championship, we are
helping to achieve this,” said Enrique Razon, chairman
and president of Ictsi.
The
Ictsi-Mt. Malarayat Championship will be the third and
final RP stop of the rising Mercedes-Benz Tour, which
has lined up a total of 10 tournaments this year. Each
leg carries $50,000 (P2 million) in prize money, except
for the season-ending $75,000 event in Thailand.
The
second leg concluded last week at the Tagaytay Midlands
Golf Club where Thailand’s Wisut Artjanawat fended off
the late rallies of Filipinos Angelo Que and Mars Pucay
to win the title. Next month,
Mt. Malarayat
will again play host to an estimated 100 players from
the ASEAN Region who will compete for the $8,126
(P350,000) top purse.
“The
nine-hole golf courses each of Lobo and Malipunyo are in
championship condition for the tournament,” was Mt.
Malarayat’s general manager Mike Carr assurance to the
Mercedes-Benz Tour top officials in a press conference
at the Crown Plaza Hotel Tuesday.
Like
last year’s tournament won by
Baguio’s
Mars Pucay, Carr and the Mt. Malarayat staff await in
eager anticipation of the new tour, which is the third
major event in the Southern Tagalog golf hub. In hosted
the Philippine Open in 2005.
“Mt.
Malarayat has been working very hard to provide a golf
course and facilities fitting for a top tournament like
the Mercedes-Benz Tour. We would like to thank Ictsi
for coming on board as title sponsor. The tournament
boasts a great atmosphere and has a very bright future,”
Carr added. |
