“At the rate the sponsors are coming in, this could yet be the most talked-about golf tournament this year, modesty aside,” said Shin Paul Chan, the co-tournament chairman of the Fil-Am Invitational.  “Already, our prizes have hit millions of pesos, both cash and merchandise alike.”

Toyota Motor Philippines will stake a Vios as a hole-in-one prize in the two-week event set to be staged at the Fil-Am Invitational’s old homes in the City of Pines, the Baguio Country Club and the Camp John Hay.

On top of this is a P300,000 in cash from the giant car company, which remains as the world’s No. 1 carmaker in the last five years or so.

“This is our way of giving back to our customers, not only those from Northern Luzon but nationwide, who have been very loyal patrons for so long now, especially our dear golfers who have traditionally considered Toyota as their vehicle of choice,” said Santos Guerrero, senior vice president of Toyota Motor Philippines.

Last year the Vios got snared and the keys to it were personally handed to the winner by Sherwin Chua Lim, the TMP vice president from the Toyota headquarters in Makati City, during the star-studded awarding ceremonies.

“My first time to hand out keys to a hole-in-one winner,” said Chua Lim, himself a more-than-average golfer boasting of a single-digit handicap.  “I was as excited as the winner.  I’ll be more than willing to do the honors again of handing out the keys and personally shaking the hand of whoever would be this year’s lucky winner.”

Thus far, there are close to 1,200 entries already, breaking last year’s record field of 1,100 players or so.

Even government leaders, as well as bigwigs in politics, like Sen. Tito Sotto and the Josons of Nueva Ecija, usually take a break from their daunting tasks in the Big City and their political territories, and motor to the Summer Capital for a round or two of competitive, but friendly golf.

“They are still coming in,” said Chan, who is being assisted in his delicate-laden strategic post by Steve McDonald, the tournament co-chairman from Camp John Hay.  “I know we will surely have a bumper harvest but we will be forced to screen the rest as our two courses can only accommodate so much.”

Both the Baguio Country Club and Camp John Hay are expected anew to be subjected to more than two weeks of tournament-caliber golf from both local and foreign players.  Virtually the country’s top amateurs, from Luzon to Mindanao, are traditionally entered, with the eventual winners almost sure of making it to national golf teams.

Name me an outstanding professional Filipino golfer today perched among those topnotch players today and, surely, he’d had stints at the Fil-Am Invitational.

“It’s a tradition that’s been there for decades,” said Chan.

As of last count, there were already 216 teams entered, 85 of which are foreign squads.

“Many more foreigners want to join,” said Chan.  “It will really break our hearts if there would be turn away teams.  We know how they feel and they really enjoy playing golf in Baguio, not only for the city’s cool weather but also the traditional warmth of the people. My heart goes to them, always.”

The tournament fee is P13,000 each for a total of P65,000 per team.  Each player is assured of receiving from Pacsports Inc. a duffle bag, golf ball bag, an umbrella and a cap—all under the brand Adams Golf.

Also among the other lucrative prizes up for grabs will come from Wilson Sports, which tossed in P1 million worth of golf sets for raffle.

Some P2 million more worth of merchandise were pitched in by Duty Free Philippines for raffle during the Awards Night, which is also a must-attend event for its sheer glitz and glitter.  Big stars from Manila usually provide entertainment, with food and drinks in abundance from buffet tables strewn around the victory pavilion of BCC.

“We are battle-ready this early,” said Chan, finally taking over the top post held for many years by Anthony de Leon, the general manager of Baguio Country Club.  “Preparations being done at both courses have been going on smoothly.  Our players will surely enjoy our tournament again.”

De Leon can now rest from his laurels after steering the Fil-Am for a decade or so.  Rico Agcaoili, the lawyer-president of Baguio Country Club, has also expressed his faith on Chan to “perform his duties well.”

“I know that with Shin [Paul Chan] at the helm, I can rest assured that the Fil-Am is in good hands,” said de Leon, whose key post at BCC makes him a fixture of the Fil-Am and the golf tournament’s pillar every step of the way for years on end.

Practice rounds will be from November 23 to 25 for seniors and regular divisions, Flights F, G and H, with the tournament proper set from November 26 to December 1.

“It’s a huge task but I guess I was born to face challenges,” said Chan, who got his name, “Shin,” from the legendary South Korean basketball dead shot Shin Dong Pa.  “He was my Mom’s idol and so, he named him after me.”

According to Chan, early sponsors included Island Cove, Rizgolf Sports Marketing, Air 21, Dusit Thani Hotel, Traders Hotel, Golf Force, Dynamic Sports and Rocky Mountain Coffee.

“We are still almost a month from blastoff and I see more backers and old-time allies of the Fil-Am Invitational coming in,” said Chan.

After a three-day break from December 1, the regular division flights and championship—A, B, C, D and E—are to be played from December 5 to 10.

Forest Hills stunningly won the men’s regular Fil Division plum last year, with Seabridge Chelus capturing the Am crown.

Camp John Hay swept both the Fil seniors and Am seniors titles in 2010.

This year the past winners aren’t assured of smooth sailing as new faces are sure to crop anew to pose strong challenges.

That’s the beauty of the Fil-Am Invitational.  It’s always exciting as boring results are almost a no-no, making it hugely unpredictable and therefore thrilling.

“Year in and year out, the champs are almost always different,” said Chan. “Seldom do we see repeat champions.”