The 72nd edition of Fil-Am Open Invitational Golf Tournament will kick off next month, as more than 1,200 players from the Asia-Pacific will see action during the two-week tournament at the Baguio Country Club and Camp John Hay.
The Fil-Am Golf executive committee has rolled out the initial schedule of the tournament that will start with practice rounds on Nov. 23 and ending with the awards night on Dec. 11.
Top amateur golfers from different clubs in the country are expected to compete in the premier Fil and Am championship flights in the regular division scheduled in the second week of the biggest and longest amateur golf tournament in the world.
The first week of the tournament will host the seniors, including the lower brackets of the regular division with the tournament proper set from Nov. 26 to Dec. 1.
The tournament proper for the premier flights and higher brackets of the regular division will be from Dec. 6 to 11 while the practice rounds are set from Dec. 3 to 5.
As a host city, Baguio City Hall will field five teams with Mayor Benjamin Magalong and City Administrator Boni dela Peña joining others in the seniors division. The other City Hall teams will compete in the regular division.
Host BCC and CJH have likewise registered their teams that will see action in the senior and regular divisions.
Minimum public health standards will be strictly implemented during the tournament while all participants must be fully-vaccinated with at least one booster shot.
All caddies and working crew must be fully vaccinated.
Players and caddies will also be subjected to antigen testing during the tournament proper.
Teams from Baguio and Benguet will defend their titles after dominating the 71st Fil-Am Golf edition when the city government benchmarked the first amateur tournament in the country during the Covid-19 pandemic.
CJH and BCC Golf Clubs have emerged the best local teams, taking home the top honors in the Fil-A and Am-A with 430 and 381 points, respectively.
Manila Southwoods took home the premier Fil- and Am championship titles in the regular division. – Harley F. Palangchao
