INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines?Port magnate Ricky Razon, whose passion for golf paved the way for the revival of the local pro circuit through the Philippine Golf Tour, has reaffirmed his commitment to assist amateur golf through the ICTSI-The Country Club program under national coach Bong Lopez.

The chair and CEO of International Container Terminal Services Inc. is also supporting the Canlubang golf team, under Tommy Manotoc, which boasts talented players including reigning national champion Mark Fernando, Cangolf Amateur titlist Jhonnel Ababa and former national team mainstay Jerson Balasabas.

The two amateur teams, however, have separate programs under their respective coaches.

The ICTSI-Cangolf squad will not be merged with the ICTSI-TCC team under Lopez, who oversees the training of the men?s and ladies teams, headed by Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Chihiro Ikeda, newly crowned Southern Ladies winner Dottie Ardina and reigning Philippine Ladies Amateur champion Cyna Rodriguez.

Just recently, Razon and ICTSI also decided to sponsor the junior golf program starting this year through the ICTSI-Jungolf Circuit under Luigi Tabuena.

Razon?s move widened his involvement in golf, where he is also the patron of the full-calendar professional circuit.

?I always believe Filipino golfers have the talent and skills to make it to the world stage,? said Razon. ?It?s just a matter of giving them the support, providing them international exposure and motivating them. Now, it?s all up to them to excel.?

Razon also supports the campaign of the Filipino pros on the Asian Tour, including two-time TCC Invitational champions Angelo Que and Juvic Pagunsan, Tony Lascuña, Anthony Fernando and former ICTSI-TCC mainstays Ferdie Aunzo, Marvin Dumandan and Jay Bayron.

Although the ICTSI men?s team performance dipped last season, Lopez said his wards will try to reassert themselves this year, starting with this week?s WWW Express-DHL Amateur Open and the PAL Interclub later this month with a team built around Antonio Asistio II, Rufino Bayron, Dante Becierra and Peter Villaber.