MANILA, Philippines — The country’s best will see action together with the region’s aces when the $60,000 Asean Development Tour’s ICTSI’s Riviera Classic tees off Wednesday at the tough Langer layout in Silang, Cavite.
Antonio Lascuña and Miguel Tabuena lead the Filipino charge in the tournament which helps prepare the players to crash their way into the more lucrative Asian Tour.
Lascuña is the hottest Filipino this season, finishing tied for second spot together with Jay Bayron in the Philippine Open at Wack Wack East two weeks ago. He also posted a victory on the local tour before the Open.
“It’s always good to see new tournaments coming up in the Philippines as it gives players like us more opportunities to play and compete at the highest level,” said Tabuena, who lost his Asian Tour card last year.
Tabuena has been playing well, finishing inside the Top 30 of the Philippine Open recently and contending in the Solaire Open—both high-profile Asian Tour events.
The event will welcome participants from over 17 countries, with the likes of American Brett Munson, Japan’s Masaharu Takahashi, England’s Grant Jackson and Scotland’s James Byrne seeing action.
The ADT, launched in 2010 with five tournaments before growing to eight in 2011, 13 in 2012 and a record 16 in the 2013 season, has established itself as a gateway to the Asian Tour.