Former Philippine Golf Tour winner Toru Nakajima and former Asian Tour campaigner Hirotaro Naito head the 33-man foreign contingent competing against local stars in the ICTSI Anvaya Cove Invitational beginning Wednesday at Anvaya Cove Golf and Sports Club in Morong, Bataan.
Nakajima, winner of the 2013 Wack Wack Open, and Naito are among 12 Japanese entered in the P3.5-million tournament. Joining them in the chase for the P650,000 top purse are nine South Koreans and five Australians.
Without last year’s champion Miguel Tabuena, who opted to take a rest following a grueling five-week campaign, the local challenge in the Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.-organized circuit will be spearheaded by reigning PGT Order of Merit champion Tony Lascuña.
Lascuña and the other pros test the Anvaya layout Tuesday for the pro-am where they will be paired with officials and guests of the event’s chief backers. —ROY LUARCA