Fankie Miñoza relishes ‘my biggest PH Open’

Philippines' tour veteran Frankie Minoza proudly shows off his trophy after winning a playoff in the ABC Championship at Kato, central Japan, on Sunday October 28, 2007. (AP Photo/Kyodo News)

MANILA, Philippines—With Frankie Miñoza’s numerous successes here and abroad, it may come as a surprise to hear how valuable this edition of the Philippine Open is to him.

“This is the biggest, as far as I am concerned,” the 52-year-old Miñoza told the Inquirer after submitting a two-under 70 in the first round of the 96th edition of the country’s national championship. That round put him well within range of a third Open crown.

Playing in a flight he called “The 156,” Miñoza was clearly a cut above Thailand’s Boonchu Ruangkit and Chinese-Taipei’s Lu Wen-teh as the two foreigners combined for a 10-over total at the unforgiving Wack Wack East layout.

“Good start, not bad for a 52-year-old,” said Miñoza, who came up with the name for his flight by adding the respective ages of its members. Ruangkit is 55 and Lu is 49.

Miñoza’s effort clearly showed how driven he is to win again, five years after he won his second title and 14 after lifting the trophy for the first time when the event was held at The Riviera in Silang, Cavite.

The trio will tee off together again in Friday’s second round, and Miñoza can’t afford to lose focus on the task at hand.

“I’m hitting it well,” he said. “But this is Wack Wack and anything can happen out there. You just have to be patient, accept your fate and know when to bounce back.”