BAGUIO CITY—The Fil-Am Golf Invitational never misses to hit the 1,000-mark in terms of the number of participants each year and organizers want to keep it that way forever and maintain its status in the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest amateur tournament.

Fil-Am cochairmen Anthony de Leon of Baguio Country Club (BCC) and Jeric Hechanova of Camp John Hay Golf Club (CJHGC) announced Tuesday that there are 1,202 registered entrants, with the bulk playing in this week’s regular event.

Last week during the seniors’ competition, which was won by emphatic fashion by Golden Oats Plus, the field reached 1,168. With the new count, it could be the biggest annual Fil-Am tournament yet in its 58-year history.

“The number swelled after all entries were accounted for,” officials said.

NORIE ZAPATA holds the record as the oldest player to join the Fil-Am event. He first participated in the early 1970s and when he played in 2006, he was 87 years old. It is a sad thing, though, because he wasn’t around this year.

But did you know that “Tatang Norie” is not the only one with the longest record? A guy named Rudy Sumineg, although a nongolfer, has been covering the Fil-Am for 32 years now as a photographer.

Sumineg, 65, has been pointing and clicking close to 30,000 amateur golfers from the time the Americans were still holding Club John Hay (Camp John Hay’s old name) as a rest and recreation hub to the present Fil-Estate consortium.

“I have dedicated half of my life to Fil-Am and continues do so. I love taking pictures of the players and I intend to do this as long as I can,” Sumineg told Greenside Chip.

Entering the Fil-Am was not an easy thing, Sumineg recounts. The Americans were so strict that time that only a few and elite Filipinos were allowed entry. It was a good thing he had friends inside Club John Hay who worked either as a waiter or caddy.

Sumineg, proud father to four successful children and husband to Brigida, asked his John Hay friends to gain entry. And the rest, as they say, is history.

FIDEL CONCEPCION, a Filipino based in Australia, is the newest baby and the youngest so far in the Fil-Am tournament. The kid is just 11 years old but he is a member of the Fairgolf Club of Sydney team, which is in the “Fil” B division.

The fourth-grade student of the Saint Patrick School in Sydney started golf at seven together with brothers King and Don at Sherwood Forest.

The Tiger Woods fan is currently enrolled at the Jack Newton Golf Foundation and plays thrice a week to keep in shape.

Winning The Only Thing

With nary a gold to show—and its Southeast Asian (SEA) neighbors gobbling up most of the mints in the preopening events in shooting—Team Philippines faces an uphill climb in its defense of the overall championship when the 24th SEA Games formally begins tomorrow in the province of Nakhon Rachasima and two other satellite venues in Thailand.

Trouble brewing in Team Donaire?

AS he expects several major challenges to come his way next year, Filipino world flyweight champion Nonito Donaire Jr. is appealing to his American promoter to treat him like a real champion.

UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS fought five grueling sets to beat San Sebastian College-Recoletos, 20-25, 25-23, 27-29, 25-15, 15-9, in Game Three yesterday to nab the Shakey’s V-League Second Conference title at the packed The Arena in San Juan.

Suddenly, the Red Bull Barakos are drawing lots of attention, and they’re looking more and more like a certified title contender for the Philippine Basketball Association’s most coveted championship with each game.

On the trading block?

IF reports are true, Talk ’N Text is not done yet changing its roster as it finds a formidable team capable of winning the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup title.

Tambunting steers Ventures Link on top of board

BAGUIO CITY—It was AAV-Robros-Ventures Link’s time to shine on a sunny Tuesday as it produced an opening-round 117 points en route to the overall leadership in “Fil” A division of the 58th Fil-Am Invitational Golf tournament.

Greenside Chip: Fil-Am sidelights: Of numbers and age

BAGUIO CITY—The Fil-Am Golf Invitational never misses to hit the 1,000-mark in terms of the number of participants each year and organizers want to keep it that way forever and maintain its status in the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest amateur tournament.

Ask Coach E: Coaches’ Code of Conduct

A few people may not be aware of it, but there is such thing as a coaches’ Code of Conduct. This is a set of standards and guidelines after which coaches must pattern behavior in mentoring basketball.