Aboitiz Invitational at Riviera’s Couples with bigger pot

The Aboitiz Invitational returns next month on a new golf course and with the second biggest pot of $100,000 in the Asian Development Tour. and Country Club’s Couples course in Silang, Cavite.

Held at the Cebu Country Club in its first three years with the regular purse of $65,000 at stake, the 72-hole championship will now test the ADT field at the wind-swept layout Riviera Golf and Country Club’s Couples course in Silang, Cavite, from Aug. 27 to 30.

Filipinos have ruled the first three editions, with Elmer Salvador becoming the first player in the ADT to retain a title when he won the last two.

Jay Bayron, also a multiple ADT leg winner, won the inaugurals when he held off close friend Juvic Pagunsan in a classic final-round shootout in 2011.

Erramon Aboitiz, president and CEO of Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc., expressed his delight with the extended partnership with the growing ADT.

“The first three editions of the Aboitiz Invitational have been very successful and we are delighted to increase the prize fund to $100,000 this year,” Aboitiz said. “We are proud to support our homegrown golfing talents.”

The biggest purse in the ADT is the $160,000 Taifong Open in Chinese Taipei which starts tomorrow after it was reduced to a 54-hole event due to inclement weather.  Musong R. Castillo