Outgoing Senate President Tito Sotto, former national players Aidric Chan and Carl Corpus and philanthropist JJ Atencio are among the noted amateurs competing in the inaugural Manila Southwoods Pro-Am Invitational starting Friday, June 24, at the Masters course of the Manila Southwoods Golf and Country Club in Carmona, Cavite.
Sotto, Corpus, Chan and Atencio will be playing for different teams in the 36-hole pro-am competition that will feature some of the biggest names in local professional golf including Frankie Minoza, Tony Lascuna and Justin Quiban.
Sotto’s team also made up of brother Maru and Bing Lapus will be reinforced by young pro Ira Alido, cousins Corpus and Chan will be joined by Coby Rolida and pro Fide Concepcion while Atencio, chairman and CEO of Januarius Holdings, Inc. is with Paolo Cagalingan, Emmanuel Garcia and pro partner Gerald Rosales in their flight.
The best-ball battle has also lured Southwoods chairman Bob Sobrepena who has Raymond Bunquin, Danny Samaniego and pro Quiban as teammates. Minoza’s flight, meanwhile, includes amateur partners Nolan Enriquez, Almario Alix and Richard Santos.
All 34 pros after the 36-hole pro-am return on the third day to battle for a bigger chunk of the prize money with P200,000 from the total pot of P1 million going to the winner.
The silver sponsors of the Southwoods Pro-Am are Agrexplore Corp., The Turf Company, MRT Dev. Co., Volvo (ANC+ Group of Companies), Asia Global Technologies,The Manor at CJH, The Forest Lodge at CJH, Klio International, Monster Energy Drink, Januarius Holdings and Coca Cola. Bronze sponsors include Sherwood Hills Golf Club, Forest Hills Golf & Country Club, Escala Tagaytay, Eyelectric, Inc., Camp John Hay Golf Club, Hydrotech Irrigation & General Services, Federal Management & Maintenance Inc., FEMI, CLTPSJ Law Offices, Le Chefx and Camaya Coast. The other notable pros entered are Mike Bibat Jhonnel Ababa, Jay Bayron and Rupert Zaragosa.