Wang Jeung-Hun, a Korean expatriate being readied to turn pro next year, tries to repeat as Philippine Amateur Open champion against a crack field starting Jan. 5 at Canlubang Golf Club in Laguna.
The 17-year-old, who also calls the country home, is one of the best amateurs in the land and he will have his hands full against a big foreign contingent arriving for the 72-hole stroke play event.
Members of the Singaporean, Malaysian and Indonesian Southeast Asian Games squads have already confirmed participation, and, coupled with the very best in the country seeing action, the event promises to be a wide-open affair.
Jobim Carlos, who finished second to Wang at Riviera last year, men’s and boy’s match play champion Ruperto Zaragosa and Art Arbole and Clyde Mondilla are also playing.
The ladies side also drew a banner field with Andie Unson to defend the crown against the expected charge of Chihiro Ikeda, Dottie Ardina, Jayvie Agojo, Sarah Ababa and Lovelynn Guioguio.
The PH Am Open serves as the kickoff leg of a series of events lined up by NGAP next year in its continuing effort to provide members of the national pool top-level tournaments.
A first-ever holding of the National Doubles Championship on Dec. 26 to 28 at the AFP Golf Club (formerly Camp Aguinaldo GC), exclusively for local players, has also been organized by the NGAP.
For details, call 5179778 or 0917-5607074.