Aboitiz Invt’l tees off at Southwoods Aug. 5

The fifth $100,000 Aboitiz Invitational fires off on Aug. 5, with the country’s best parbusters taking on the cream of the Asian Development Tour field at the well-manicured Legends layout of Manila Southwoods in Carmona, Cavite.

The event, held in the first three years at Cebu Country Club and then at Riviera in Silang, will be played over 72 holes with the local campaigners trying to keep the title on home soil.

Jay Bayron won the inaugural staging in Cebu in 2011 by nipping the fancied Juvic Pagunsan, with Elmer Salvador prevailing in the next two.

Antonio Lascuña won last year at Riviera and, together with Bayron, are tipped to contend for the title with the Legends in shape for sizzling scores.

“At least 18-under,” Bayron said, when asked about the possible winning score during the event’s launch yesterday where he and Charles Hong sampled the Jack Nicklaus-designed layout.

“Given the depth of the field, around 4- to 5-under a day would be perfect,” said Hong, the ICTSI Luisita Championship winner two months ago.

Ernest Villareal, the senior VP of Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Asian Tour associate director Irfan Hamin, Colo Ventosa of the organizing Philippine Golf Tournaments, Inc. and Southwoods golf director Jerome Delariarte were also present during the launch.

“We are very happy with the success of the Aboitiz Invitational and we are grateful to be a partner of this event with Philippine Golf Tour, ICTSI and the Asian Development Tour,” said Villareal.

Taiwan’s Order of Merit leader Hsieh Chi-hsien, Malaysian Arie Irawan and Australian Jake Stirling are among the top-flight foreigners entered.