FOR the very first time, the Philippines sent a delegation of 14 (11 Players) to the World Amateur Golfers Championship and Invitational in Malaysia.
And the team didn’t disappoint.
Leading the charge for the Philippines was Tonito Payumo of First Gen Corporation and once the no. 1-ranked junior tennis player in the Philippines.
Payumo was crowned Champion of Division 1, (individual handicap 0-5 of WAGI) with a four-day score of 74, 70, 81, and 70 (aggregate 295) to win by four strokes over Petr Bilek of the Czech Republic.
Oliver Gan was 2nd runner-up with a 300 aggregate score tally, also in Division 1 of the WAGI, while Mabel Salivio garnered 2nd Runner-up honors in Division 3 (individual handicap 11-15 of WAGC) with a 293 aggregate.
The World Amateur Golfers Championship and Invitational is the largest amateur golf tournament in the world and has been commemorated 22 times in numerous countries from around the globe.
Every year, tournaments are held in over 45 different countries and the winners are sent abroad to compete in the World Finals.
This year, the World Finals was held on Nov. 18 to 25, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The tournament had over 330 and more golfers from 38 other countries.
After two practice rounds, all competitors played four days and 72 holes of competition in four of the top championship courses in Malaysia, namely The Mines Resort and Golf Club, Kota Permai Golf and Country Club, Sungai Long Golf and Country Club, and Templar Park Country Club.
Representing the 2017 Team Philippines were: The World Amateur Golfers Championship (5-man team); Div 1 (0-5 HCP) Gerald Katigbak (Riviera Golf Club) 5th place (298 aggregate); Div 2 (6-10 HCP) Augusto Cruz (Beverly Place Golf), 6th place (305 aggregate); Div 3 (11-15 HCP) Mabel Salivio (Camp Aguinaldo Golf), 3rd place (293 aggregate); Div 4 (16-20 HCP)Marc Leviste (Summit Point Golf), 7th place (305 aggregate); Div 5 (21-25 HCP) Alfredo Abarintos (Mt. Malarayat Golf), 11th place (305 aggregate)
Also stamping their class in the tournament were the World Amateur Golfers Invitational (2-man team); Div 1 (0-5 HCP) Tonito Payumo (The Orchard Golf/ Manila Golf Club/ Anvaya Golf Club), 1st place (295 aggregate); Div 1 (0-5 HCP) Oliver Gan (Wack