The Fil-Am golf officially started Thursday after the ceremonial tee at the Camp John Hay and Baguio Country Club courses.
Baguio mayor Benjamin Magalong joined Fil-Am Invitational Golf Tournament officers in the ceremonial tee that launched the more than two weeks of friendly competition which now goes full blast after the Covid-19 pandemic that cancelled the event in 2020 and a short and small “relaunch” type last year.
Games will kick off in the senior and lower flights Saturday, November 26, as half of the 1,200 players from 240 teams will tee off for four days of competition in the par 61 BCC course and par-69 CJH course.
Manila Southwoods hopes to stamp its class anew as it entered teams in both the premiere Fil and Am Championship. The Carmona, Cavite based squads had dominated the annual competition since joining in 1997 and in 2004 when the seniors division was introduced.
The championship flights take off on Sunday with the Fil Division teeing off at the CJH course on the first two days, while the Am teams take the shorter BCC course on the first two days and the teams swapping venues during the last two days.
The five championship flights on each division will play Sunday and Monday, take a breather on Tuesday then return to the field on the last two days on Wednesday and Thursday.
Southwoods will face rival Luisita Golf Club, Riviera Golf as well as Fil-Am teams Leeward Fil-Am of Hawaii and Mamala Bay in the Fil division.
Southwoods Am team, on the other hand, will have its hands full with regular contender and former Fil Championship champion Megafiber, Srixon, Dugong Bughaw and Team Alpha.
Eight teams are entered in Fil A with Camp John Hay Hotels leading the pack. Enlisted to give the host team a run for its money are: D Young Ones, Haotel Bahia, Macquarie Links Sydney Team 1, Moto, Robros – JV Golf Team, Team Na Koa Team 1 and Team Okinawa.
In Am A are locals Baguio Blue Bloods, Forest Hills, Bibak NY/NJ IGolfers, Guam Kool Swingers, Pradera Verde, Project Lasarus, Rural Bank of Melbourne and San Francisco Golf Warriors.
In Class B, the Fil and Am divisions have 11 and 10 entries, respectively. Hosts BCC and CJH have their respective teams and will be challenged by Cargo Freight, Davao Eaglemasters I, Fairgolf Club of Sydney Team I, Filgolfers of Hawaii Team 1, Filipino American Golfers New York Team1, Golf F Team, LMG Construction, Sandign 82 Team 1 and Teerifics.
AM B has CJH Team 2, A1 MGC, Birdies 2 Go, Fairgolf Club of Sydney Team 2, Fil-Am Japan, Guam Seals, Hillsiders of Baguio, MCG Mimosa, Rural Bankers Team and Seattle Fil-Am.
Twelve teams each are entered in both Fil and Am Division in Class C with host city’s Breathe Baguio Team leading the pack in Seniors C. The other teams entered are: Dagupan Bus, EK Amigos, Fil-Am Golf of Florida Team 1, ICSI/TMI Team 1, Korea Morning Calm, Sandigan Golfers Team 1, Senior Golfers of Veterans Inc Team 1, Silicon Valley Golfers Link Team 1, Team City of Vallejo Team 1, Team Mcder – Fil and Vancouver Golf Club.
BCC Team 2 leads Senior Am C and will play against 13th Tee, Chemsol – Flowtork, Davao Eaglemasters II, Eastridge Senior Team, Greenwater Meadows, Macquarie Links Sydney Team 2, NBI Team 157, Sandigan 82 Team 2, Solid North Transit, Team NA Koa Team 2 and TGC Tugegarao Golf Club.
Seniors Fil D has 13 teams competing including the city’s golf club, while Am D has the most with 16 teams or about 90 players.
Regulars Fil F and G has eight and five teams each, while Am F anf G have seven and five squads, respectively. Pigeon Lobien
