INQUIRER Sports

PORT MAGNATE RICKY RAZON reaffirmed his commitment Friday to support local golf after sealing with Tommy Manotoc a deal merging his ICTSI-backed program with the famous Calatagan-Canlubang partnership.

The deal now puts the country?s two best amateurs?Mark Fernando and Jonel Ababa?under the program, which aims to restore the country?s supremacy in the Asian region.

?It?s both a privilege and an honor to be able to work hand in hand with Mr. Razon,? Manotoc told the Inquirer. ?Philippine golf can?t ask for a better benefactor.?

Manotoc, the former longtime Philippine team mainstay, will head the coaching staff. He also handled the National Caddies? Open program based in Calatagan which developed Fernando, Ababa, Jessie Balasabas and Rufino Bayron as amateur standouts.

Fernando is the reigning RP Amateur champion, while Ababa won the recent Sabah Open.
The duo finished 2-3 in the Hong Kong Amateurs at Discovery Bay yesterday, with Fernando firing a final round four-under 68 finish two strokes behind Australian Daniel Nisbet.

Ababa matched par 72 and was third with a 286, six shots behind the Aussie.