Late-blooming Lumbo eager to make PH Open mark
CARMONA, Cavite—For someone who picked up the game 12 years ago in faraway Sarangani province, Jeff Lumbo never imagined that he would someday be playing in the Smart Infinity Philippine Open.
A relative beginner compared to the others in the field, the 28-year-old ex-caddy at the nine-hole Sarangani Golf and Country Club (SGCC) insists that he still feels he is dreaming at this point in his late-blooming career.
“I really can’t believe it. I still feel like this is all a dream,” Lumbo, who earned a bachelor’s degree in maritime studies by supporting himself doing other odd jobs at SGCC, told the Inquirer in Filipino on Tuesday afternoon after another practice round at Manila Southwoods’ Masters course.
Lumbo is one of seven players that will contest the low amateur title, counting 17-year-old girl wonder Rianne Malixi. He is giving himself a good chance to pull the rug from under celebrated bets like Filipino-Japanese Shinichi Suzuki, Jonar Austria and reigning national champion Zeus Sara.
“I hope to catch a few good breaks here and there, because the course is really tricky,” he said.
The story of this prized find started when ex-tee boy and pro-turned-businessman Gary Sales brought him to the big city less than two years ago. Sales saw the potential in the reedy Lumbo and gave him access to equipment, practice facilities and even the family home.
“I owe him everything,” Lumbo said of Sales. “I don’t want to let him down. I don’t want to let my family down. I’m sure they are already proud of me. But I will do everything I need to perform well here.”
The 72-hole championship gets off the ground on Thursday, with the pros battling it out for the $90,000 (around P5.3 million) champion’s purse out of the $500,000 kitty.
Amateurs are not entitled to any money even if they survive the 36-hole cut, but Lumbo knows what’s at stake for him and the others in the amateur race.
“Not everyone can win that title,” said Lumbo, who will anchor the Eastridge team in the Philippine Airlines Interclub next month as his swan song before he plays for money.
“That’s the plan,” he said. “I hope to become an Asian Tour regular someday and who knows, this event and the Interclub might send me off [to the pro ranks] well.”
