First SW Invitational in two years blasts off
Out the last two years when the pandemic broke, the Manila Southwoods Invitational marks its grand return starting on Wednesday with a banner field of 400 member-guest teams seeing action at the complex’s world-class Masters and Legends layouts.
But unlike in previous editions of Southwoods’ flagship tournament, the March 16 to March 19 event will be held with health restrictions, including sequential tee times and the wearing of face masks and physical distancing on all four days of the event backed by The Turf Company as title sponsor.
The awards rites and major raffle program will be held via zoom at 5 p.m. on March 19. Tournament winners and sponsors will be invited to attend a photo op and lunch at 10:30 a.m. on March 26.
Championship shape
Both courses have been whipped to championship-level shape, with the greens slick and the fairways well-manicured.
Theody Pascual and ex-pro-turned businessman Gary Sales bagged the overall gross championship, while Dante Maldia and Wilfredo Maldia took the net team honors when the tournament was last played in 2020.
Teams will be allocated sequential tee times with the first set at 6:36 a.m. on both courses using the net stableford points format. The best ball will be played at the Masters and the aggregate at the Legends.
