Intrepid 10 shooting for cash, uplift PH pride at Sta. Elena
The most lucrative pro golf tournament on Philippine soil will feature arguably the most loaded field ever when the International Series gets off the ground on Thursday at Sta. Elena where Miguel Tabuena leads a 10-man local contingent gunning for a cash bonanza for the ages.
A total pot of $2 million (around P116 million) will be dangled as an international roster led by three former major champions in Dustin Johnson, Charl Schwartzel and Louis Oosthuisen open hostilities on Thursday with the Filipinos shooting for an upset over a field that will have the biggest collection of stars to ever play here.
Tabuena has been the most successful Filipino internationally for the past several years and has had a lot of experience playing against some of the best in the world lately.
The 31-year-old will be joined in the starting field by Angelo Que, Keanu Jahns, Rupert Zaragosa, amateur Perry Bucay, Clyde Mondilla and young guns Justin Quiban, Sean Ramos, Aidric Chan and Carl Corpus, who all got into the 72-hole championship via different routes.
Tabuena, who also has some PGA Tour experience, will be coming off an 11th place tie in the Jakarta IS stop and can use his local knowledge of the venue where he is a member.
And it is what Ramos hopes to gain as he crams to familiarize himself with the well-manicured layout that has some of the most slippery greens in the land.
“To be able to play in it, and to do so on home soil, feels very special,” Ramos said. “I’ve been preparing by playing at Sta. Elena over the past few weeks to get familiar with the course and the greens.
“I’m happy with how I’ve been performing on The International Series so far, and I hope to carry that form into next week. Having stars like Dustin Johnson in the field makes it even more inspiring – DJ has always been one of my biggest idols.”
Quiban is also one of the most exciting talents to come out of the country, plying his trade on the Asian Tour.
He finished in the top-20 of the PH Open earlier this year.
