An elite international field playing in ideal condition will lead to low scores when the $100,000 Aboitiz Invitational 2017 ushers in the PGT Asia Tour on Tuesday at Manila Southwoods’ Legends course in Carmona, Cavite.
Notable entries from 17 countries headed by Thai Pasavee Lertvilai are ready to challenge the local stars headed by Order of Merit champion Tony Lascuña, three-time Japan Tour winner Angelo Que and multititled Miguel Tabuena for the $17,500 top purse.
Lertvilai handily won the recent PGT Asia Tour Q-School and is tipped to contend for the inaugural crown with fellow qualifiers Seungjae Maeng and John Michael O’Toole of the USA, Korean-American Micah Shin and Indonesians Joshua Wirawan and Elki Kow.
The organizing Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. and sponsoring International Container Terminal Services, Inc. have lined up a three-year program for the region’s newest pro circuit with a total of $1.7 million to be dangled in 2018 and $2 million in 2019.