The ICTSI Eagle Ridge Classic, a P3 million event that veers away from the traditional one-course format, gets off the ground today with all the tour luminaries participating to make it a truly wide open race.
With three courses that have very distinct characteristics to be used—with the Aoki layout hosting the final two rounds—the chase for the P550,000 top purse should prove to be an interesting one.
Each player will play the Norman and Faldo courses once in the first two rounds before a 36-hole cut is made, and then it’s on to the Aoki course, where everyone can truly go low.
Angelo Que, Antonio Lascuña and Frankie Miñoza will all see action together with Joenard Rates, who will play as a champion for the first time in his career after winning the John Hay Classic in Baguio two weeks ago.
Young guns Jay Bayron, Jonel Ababa and Miguel Tabuena are also tipped to contend.
Rates held off Lascuña in the final two rounds in Baguio to win by two shots. He also powered his team in the Pro-Am to victory Monday, proof that he continues to hit it well.
“This format it new and more challenging,” Rates said.
Still, the long hitters will have an advantage like Que and Miñoza, who have been knocking on the door of a maiden win for the young golfing season.
Que will be playing for the second straight week since that meltdown at The Country Club that cost him the Solaire Open crown. He finished joint fifth at John Hay.
“I’m hitting it quite well, even at John Hay,” Que, who shot a 12 in the par-5 second hole of TCC in the final round of the Asian Tour event, said.
“I expect to contend this week even with this kind of a format.”