Crack contingents from Thailand and Australia head the field of players gearing up for a fierce battle with the top local shotmakers as the Philippine Golf Tour Asia resumes next week at Pradera Golf and Country Club in Lubao, Pampanga.
Thais Wisut Artjanawat, former PGTA Q-School topnotcher Pasavee Lertvilai, Poosit Supupramai, Thammanoon Sriroj and Namchok Tantiphokakul join last year’s runner-up Andrew Campbell and fellow Aussies Clayton Bridge, Nathan Park and Simon Viitakangas in the early roster of contenders in the $100,000 event, which serves as the eighth leg of the second season of the newest regional circuit.
Foreign field
Americans Sydney Chung, Dylan Jackson, Andy Kang and Lexus Keoninh, Englishmen Benjamin David, Joe Knox and George Twyman, Japanese Keisuke Takahashi, Korean Hwang Myung Chal, Spanish Salvador Paya Vila, Macedonian Peter Stojanovski and Manila-based Dutchman Guido Van der Valk are also in the fold for the 72-hole championship that tees off Jan. 16.
Favorites
Jhonnel Ababa, who beat Campbell by two here last year to emerge the first PGT Asia back-to-back winner after also ruling the Eagle Ridge Invitational, banners the local challenge.
Joenard Rates, who nipped Finland’s Janne Kaske on the second extra hole to top the last PGT Asia leg at Summit Point last November, also hopes to figure in the title hunt on a flat but challenging course which puts premium on shot-shaping.
Other top locals seeing action are Jay Bayron, Jerson Balasabas, Tony Lascuña and Elmer Salvador and young guns Justin Quiban, James Ryan Lam, Ira Alido and Keanu Jahns.