IN SPITE OF THE holiday season, the battle on the greens is expected to be fierce as the National Golf Association of the Philippines stages the National Doubles Amateur Championship on Monday, featuring members of the national pool, the jungolf stars and the leading players of various clubs at the AFP Golf Club.
Rupert Zaragosa and Don Petil head the roster of national training pool members vying in the 54-hole tournament, which puts emphasis on team play and provides the field a different kind of competition.
Zaragosa, the reigning junior and national champion, has tapped Justin Quiban of the NGAP developmental pool in the event conducted by the NGAP while Petil will be paired with Victor Pardillo of AFP GC.
Others competing in the centerpiece Group I are jungolf and Philippine team standout Jobim Carlos, JP De Claro, Joey Huerva, AR Ramos and Andres Saldaña.
Carlos, a US golf scholar, will team up with fellow jungolfer Raymund Gonzales, De Claro will be with Eric Gallardo, Huerva will partner with Lawrence Celestino, Ramos has linked up with AFP GC’s Jama Reyes and Saldaña picks fellow jungolfer Keanu Jahns. National pool mainstay Art Arbole will be teaming up with jungolf standout Gabriel Manotoc./Correspondent Jonas Panerio