March 29, 2024

No player from the roster of 314 participants, who saw action in the 71st Fil-Am Invitational Golf Tournament held at the Baguio Country Club and Camp John Hay on Dec. 14 to 17 tested positive for Covid-19 in their RT-PCR tests.

All players were subjected to three antigen tests each during the tournament that saw the participation of 56 teams in the regular and seniors’ division.

Members of the Fil-Am secretariat, including the caddies of BCC and CJH were subjected to antigen test. All those with reactive antigen test were subjected to RT-PCR testing.

Prior to the tournament that was given a green signal from the national Inter-Agency Task Force, Department of Health, and the city government of Baguio, the Fil-Am executive committee has made sure that all the participants are fully-vaccinated, including the caddies.

Fil-Am Foundation President and Chair Robert John Sobpreña announced at the close of the tournament that not one tested positive in their RT-PCR test conducted either in a government hospital or accredited private molecular laboratory center.

Sobrepeña said the protocols implemented in the Fil-Am will serve as a benchmark in the conduct of amateur golf tournaments in the country.

Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong informed the participants the national IATF has earlier authorized him to decide if the city will allow the resumption of the biggest and longest amateur golf tournament in the world in coordination with local health authorities.

The decision to allow the resumption of Fil-Am golf came after concerned officials noted that Baguio has a full vaccination rate at 88 percent, the highest among all local government units in northern and central Luzon.

It also surpassed the 70 percent target set by the Department of Health for every LGU. Magalong also announced that the city was successful in curbing the spread of Covid-19 Delta variant in less than two months compared to other LGUs nationwide. – Harley F. Palangchao