THE National Golf Association of the Philippines (NGAP) and International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) are combining forces in the formation of the national team for golf for the 24th Southeast Asian Games in Thailand in December.

NGAP, the country’s national body for golf, and ICTSI, the sponsor of some of the country’s top amateurs, have forged an agreement to help each other and strengthen the Philippines’ campaign.                    

Their alliance dispels the persistent rumor that the ICTSI, because it continuously sends junior golfers abroad to compete, has taken over the NGAP in the selection of members of the national team.

“We have had meetings with ICTSI, through coach Bong Lopez, regarding this matter, and everything turned out well.  In fact, anybody who would like to extend their assistance is most welcome,” NGAP executive director Jake Ayson told BusinessMirror.

Lopez, meanwhile, clarified that ICTSI is just doing its part to help the kids in “the best ways possible.”

“ICTSI is not the national team. It may have its own plans but, at the end of the day, it is still for the development of golf in the Philippines,” Lopez said.

Ayson explained that NGAP will hold a two-event qualifier, which is open to any golfer as long as his handicap is seven or better. It will be held at the Riviera’s Couples course from August 28 to 31 and will conclude at the Langer layout from September 4 to 7.

He expects players from the current national training pool, the Caddies Foundation put up by sportsman Tommy Manotoc, and top golfers from Canlubang and Del Monte to join.

“The jungolfers under the ICTSI stable, who competed last July at the Callaway Golf championships, have confirmed their commitment and will go through the qualifiers,” Ayson said.

The top six winners at the Riviera stop are still not assured of top seedings, though. They will still have to battle it out in the Philippine Amateur Championship, including the feared match play, set from September 12 to 16 at the Santa Barbara course in Iloilo City.

The champion in the Iloilo leg will automatically be top seed on Team Philippines, while the other three slots will be contested by the five qualifiers.

After the final composition has been named, Team Philippines will then compete in two more international tournaments, the Nomura Cup in Taiwan and the Putra Cup at The Country Club in Canlubang, before heading to the SEA Games.

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THE National Golf Association of the Philippines (NGAP) and International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) are combining forces in the formation of the national team for golf for the 24th Southeast Asian Games in Thailand in December.

FOR almost four decades, it has been the goal of the Women’s National Collegiate Athletics Association (WNCAA) to veer away from the shadows of the country’s premier leagues, such as University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) and the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA).

MY good friend Al Mendoza, sports and motoring editor of the Philippine Chronicle, sends me text messages almost weekly after reading my BusinessMirror sports thingy—injecting his two (thousand) cents’ worth and adding perspective to what I had just shared.