INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines—The 92nd Philippine Open is less than three days away and other than Frankie Miñoza shooting to win the event for the second straight year and third time overall, the battle for low amateur honors could provide an interesting sidelight.

With defending champion Jay Bayron now a pro, the amateur battle is too close to call and will likely be contested by players coming from just two stables.

Talents from the National Caddies’ Open and ICTSI pools have made their way into the main draw of the $300,000 Asian Tour event to be played starting Thursday at the East course of Wack Wack in Mandaluyong.

The NCO has six talents in the tournament proper, three of them among the 10 survivors of a 36-hole qualifier, while ICTSI, the program funded by port magnate Enrique Razon, will have two entries in reigning RP Am champ Anthony Fernando and Ferdinand Aunzo.

Nationals Mark Fernando and Jonel Ababa and RP Am finalist Mario Labajo made it outright for the NCO before Jessie Balasabas, Paul Echavez and Zannie Boy Gialon advanced from the qualifying event held last week.

The NCO and ICTSI programs are diverse, with the NCO carrying out its objectives at the Calatagan in Batangas and the ICTSI based at The Country Club in Laguna.