NTCC classification gets off ground at Eagle Ridge

The 18-hole classification round of the National Tournament of Club Champions gets off the ground on Monday as some of the land’s finest amateurs begin what could be a grueling five-day stretch to win one of the Philippines’ most prestigious titles.

Playing host of the event presented by Lexus and put together by Inquirer Golf is Eagle Ridge in Trece Martirez, Cavite, as the tournament will use all of its four well-manicured courses throughout the competition that will be declared open by the Inquirer’s Marixi Prieto, National Golf Association of the Philippines president Martin Lorenzo and Sta. Lucia big boss Enteng Santos who will all hit ceremonial drives.

A total of 20 clubs will be represented by 18 players in the men’s division, counting brothers Santi and Basti Lorenzo, who will be playing for Sta. Elena and Manila Golf, respectively, even as Matet Salivio guns for a third women’s title playing for Camp Aguinaldo.

Senior play also promises to be an interesting division with Canlubang’s Abe Rosal and Forest Hills/Royal Northwoods’ Rodel Mangulabnan rekindling their Philippine Airlines Interclub and Fil-Am rivalry.

“The strength of this field, I think, is one of the best we’ve seen in years,” Inquirer Golf’s Jong Arcano, who first organized this event more than 20 years ago with Raymund Sangil as the first champion, said.

There are several names that stand out as dark horse bets, like Villamor’s Gary Sales, Cebu CC’s Bayani Garcia and Manila Southwoods’ Ruel Cabral in men’s play, and Theody Pascual, also of Southwoods, Abe Avena of Summit Point and Marvin Caparros of Wack Wack in the senior division.

Classification action will be played at the Norman layout, before play shifts to match on Tuesday at the Faldo. When the fields are trimmed to their final eight players, the Dye layout will be the battleground before the Final Fours are played at Aoki.

The championship round will be held back at the Faldo course on Friday. INQ