Philippine Amateur Open golf under way at Canlubang North

CANLUBANG—Jobim Carlos knows exactly how prestigious the Philippine Amateur Open title is.

“Everyone wants to win the Philippine Am, and I’m one of those players,” Carlos told the Inquirer on the eve of the tournament that gets going Thursday at the tree-lined, wind-swept Canlubang North here.

“It’s the most prestigious title in the country,” added the bespectacled 19-year-old, one of the local favorites in the 72-hole event. “And besides, I still don’t have an amateur title yet, and it would be nice if it becomes the first.”

Carlos is regarded as one of the finest amateurs in the land, having represented the Philippines in several international tournaments and winning the individual championship in the Montecillo Cup two years ago.

But he was quick to point out that the Montecillo was a below-18 event.

“The PH Am is entirely different,” he added. “This is a special tournament, with the best players seeing action.”

Carlos came close to winning at Riviera last year, finishing second to Korean expatriate Wang Jeung-yun despite giving gallant chase in the last two rounds.

Reigning men’s and boys’ match play champion Rupert Zaragosa is another local bet to watch, having learned the game in Canlubang, a vital ingredient to prevailing in the Robert Trent Jones-designed layout.

Gregory Foo and the veteran Jerome Ng of Singapore lead the stellar international field even as the 54-hole women’s side also tees off today before taking a break on Saturday and resuming on Sunday.

The events are being backed by Pancake House, AirPhil Express, Tanduay and organized by the National Golf Association of the Philippines.

Zaragosa is just willing to add the PH Open Am title to his growing collection.