Stellar field vying in PH Match Play at Orchard

MANILA, Philippines — The Orchard Golf and Country Club has joined the National Golf Association of the Philippines (NGAP) and will host the PH Match Play Championship, one of the country’s most prestigious amateur events, at the world-class Palmer layout starting April 21.

A crack field led by the members of the Orchard squad that won the PAL Interclub last February has signed up for the event, which will be presented by the MVP Sports Foundation as part of the PLDT Group Amateur Tour.

Raymund Sangil, TJ Benitez and the seasoned King Stehmeier are all entered like the rest of the Orchard squad that upset Del Monte and Cebu Country Club in Bacolod.

“We are excited to join the NGAP and we will make sure that the course will be ready for the big tournament,” Orchard president Conrad Benitez said.

Rupert Zaragosa, a former champion who withdrew while holding the lead after 24 holes in last week’s PH Junior Am at Sherwood Hills, has recovered from a wrist injury and is certainly one of the players to watch.

Eddie Bagtas, the former pro who powered Luisita to the Seniors title in the Interclub, is also playing along with several other veterans.

Newly crowned Junior champion Gen Nagai, national team members Justin Quiban and Gabriel Manotoc are also seeing action.

Two stroke-play rounds starting Monday will determine the top 32 men 16 women.

The match play stages will have two matches for the next two days before the championship matches are played on Friday.

“The NGAP is very happy and honored to accept Orchard,” golf body president Tommy Manotoc said. “We are looking forward to holding more tournaments there in the future.”