AN already tough field was made even tougher after defending champion Frankie Minoza confirmed his participation in the ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour scheduled on Dec. 19-22 at the Wack Wack’s East Course last year.
Much will be at stake in this tournament which is dangling a total of P2.5M in cash prizes including a whopping P450,000 that will go to the champion of this 72-hole tournament, which closes out the 15-leg local professional circuit.
Minoza rallied from seven strokes down in the final round to beat Rufino Bayron and Elmer Saban and snatch the crown last year with the two-time Philippine Open champion coming into the event oozing with confidence following his recent victory in the Japan Seniors Open.
But he will be up against the cream of the crop, including the top four in the ICTSI-PGT Order of Merit rankings—Tony Lascuna, Elmer Salvador, Zanie Boy Gialon and Miguel Tabuena.
The four are all two-leg winners in the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc., ensuring a battle royale in quest not only for the coveted OOM crown but also for the winningest player tag. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio