ONE of the most prestigious golf tournaments in the country, the Villamor Philippine Masters, is making a grand return after 17 years of absence at its home, the Villamor Golf Club.
Dubbed the International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI)-Villamor Philippine Masters, the event—set May 25 to 27— offers a total cash prize of P2 million and is expected to lure some of the region’s top and rising players because it will be held during a break in the Asian Tour and Asian Development Tour.
Cassius Casas won the Masters’ last edition in 2000. Local golf took a major hit following an economic turmoil and a ban on tobacco sponsorship of sporting events resulting to the shelving of the Masters and other local tournaments.
With its revival, the Masters is expected to stay on the tour calendar as one of the highlight events of the Philippine Golf Tour.
“It’s very significant for the Philippine Masters to make its comeback in its original home,” said retired Col. Oscar Calingasan, now general manager of the Villamor Air Base Golf Club (VABGC), during Monday’s launch.
Also present during the launch were Major Gen. Conrado Parra, Philippine Air Force Vice Commander and VABGC chairman; Narlene Soriano, executive director of PGT and ICTSI Public Relations head; Colo Ventosa, general manager of PGTI; and tournament director Luigi Tabuena.
The long and difficult course within the country’s premier air base has undergone a minor facelift and will provide serious challenge for the country’s top pros like Miguel Tabuena, Tony Lascuña and Jay Bayron.
Former Philippine Masters champions Frankie Miñoza and Robert Pactolerin are also expected to see action in the event put up by ICTSI and organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournament Inc. (PGTI).
Pactolerin, who calls Villamor his home, said the long and narrow tree-lined course will provide problems even for the toughest professionals.
“You need to hit accurate drives or the trees will come into play. A tiny mistake here and you’re looking at a double or triple bogey,” Pactolerin said.
Ventosa said they expect a hundred professionals, mostly Filipinos, to see action. She added that invites have been sent out to foreign players, most those from Japan and South Korea.
“We at the PGTI have always wanted to have a tournament here at Villamor but unfortunately, the opportunity did not present itself until now. It is just fitting to hold a tournament here at Villamor as the PGTI moves to its tenth year,” Soriano said.
The Philippine Masters was born in 1975 with the legendary Ben Arda emerging as the inaugural champion. The event had gone on and off the local circuit until it was last staged in 2000 with Casas besting a tough international field.
The return of the Masters was formalized yesterday with the signing of the memorandum of agreement among officials of Villamor and the PGTI, capped by the raising of the VABGC and PGTI flags.
“This should kickstart the return of the Philippine Masters. The course is ready and prepared,” said Calingasan.
The winner in this Philippine Masters comeback earns P360,000.
“This is the recuperated and reinvigorated Philippine Masters. It was a crusade to bring it back to its home course. And now, the comeback is within our grasp,” said Parra.
The PAF vice commander thanked the PGTI for being part of the event and sharing Villamor’s goal to bring the Philippine Masters back to life.
Image credits: Nonie Reyes