3 PH pros shoo-in for Olympics golf

Antonio Lascuña/ INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Golfers Angelo Que, Antonio Lascuña and Jennifer Rosales are strongly bidding to carry the national colors when the sport returns to the Rio de Janeiro Olympics next year.

Joey Romasanta, Philippine chef de mission to the 2016 Games, said the trio, touring professionals in various tournaments overseas, have met the cutoff in the world ranking set by the International Olympic Committee.       

Que, who had three Asian Tour victories, ranked 53rd while the 44-year-old Lascuña is three notches below at 56th along with Rosales, a two-time LPGA Tour winner, in the women’s category.

Romasanta, also Philippine Olympic Committee 1st vice president, said they’re also looking at Princess Superal to qualify and join Rosales in the women’s team event.

The 18-year-old Superal, a double-gold medalist in the 2013 Southeast Asian Games. won the 2014 US junior girls champion.

According to Romasanta, the top 59 players in the world ranked by the International Golf Federation will qualify to the Rio De Janeiro Games under the supervision of the IOC.        

“They have to maintain their rankings until July 11 next year for them to qualify,’’ said Romasanta.

Lascuña boasts of 20 professional wins in a career spanning 18 years, the 36-year-old Que had a total of seven victories and Rosales won thrice since turning pro in 2000.        

“The rankings have been put up by the IOC specifically to provide opportunity for players from more countries,’’ said Romasanta.

The IOC decided to reinstate golf in the 2016 Games open to professional players. It was last played during the 1904 Summer Games.