MANILA, Philippines — The ageless Frankie Miñoza and Angelo Que, both former Philippine Open champions, again shoot for their first win on the ICTSI Tour starting Tuesday when the P3.5 million Manila Masters tees off at Eastridge in Binangonan, Rizal.
Miñoza, the Philippines’ biggest pro star in the last three decades, and three-time Asian Tour winner Que headline a full field vying for the P650,000 champion’s prize along with Antonio Lascuña, the local tour’s most successful campaigner with two wins so far and the leading Filipino on the Asian Order of Merit at No. 8 overall.
Rick Gibson, the Canadian who has called the country home and who is also a former Open champ, is also in the roster at the head of a lean foreign field. He hopes to become just the second foreigner to win on the local tour after Japan’s Toru Nakajima last year. “It’s a wide-open race since everyone is here,” Que said.
Que has knocked on the doors of a first win this season and is itching to rebound from a faltering finish in the ADT Orchard Championship last week.
After opening up with sub-70 cards, Que finished with a 72 and 76 and tied for 20th in the event won by Rufino Bayron, who is also entered this week.
Charles Hong, Jay Bayron and Jun Rates, who have all won legs this season, are also in the mix together with others seeking a breakthrough triumph like Clyde Mondilla, Jessie Balasabas and Jun Bernis.
Ferdie Aunzo, the former PH Team spearhead who has been struggling the last two years or so, is the biggest name who has an advantage at the up-and-down layout.
Aunzo knows the course like the back of his hands, having represented the club in so many tournaments before being named to several PH teams.
After playing for so many national squads, Aunzo turned pro, won a leg two years ago only to go on a drought.
He has left the care of former coach Bong Lopez and returned to Eastridge. The traditional pro-am ushers in the tournament today.
Guests from backers, Nike Golf, Pacsports, Srixon, FootJoy, It’s More Fun in the Philippines, Callaway, Mizuno, Custom Clubmakers, Titleist, Sharp and KZG and media partners Balls Channel, Inquirer Golf and ABS-CBN Sports+Action will be paired with the leading pros.