Carl Corpus hopes to snap a string of mediocre finishes as he shoots for back-to-back title feat in the Philippine Amateur Open Match Play Championship unfolding tomorrow (Monday, April 22) at the Luisita Golf and Country Club in Tarlac.
Corpus charged back late to turn back Aniceto Mandanas and snare the crown at the Orchard last year but the 17-year-old shotmaker faces tall odds in his bid for a repeat in the five-day championship sponsored by the MVP Sports Foundation.
For one, Corpus has struggled in the first four tournaments in this year’s PLDT Group National Amateur Tour, finishing 10th in the Phl Amateur Open Stroke Play at Riviera, sharing sixth place in the W Express RVF Cup in Canlubang, ending up tied for fourth in the Phl Junior Amateur Open at Sherwood, and bowing out in the first round of of the MVPSF Visayas Regional Match Play Championship at Cebu Country Club two weeks ago.
But the former Ateneo stalwart is all geared up for another shot at the Phl Am Match Play crown although he wound need to come up with a strong start in the stroke play elims to gain the needed momentum for the knockout matches beginning Wednesday.
The top 16 in both the boys’ and girls’ divisions after the 36-hole elims will advance to the match play phase of the event organized and conducted by the National Golf Association of the Philippines and backed by the PLDT Group, Cignal and Metro Pacific.
Out to foil his bid are Kristoffer Arevalo, Tim Avramidis, Leandro Bagtas, siblings Aldo and Paqo Barro, Perry Bucay, Dylan Castillo, Zachary Castro, Dan Cruz, Jeffrey Gabe, Joaquin Gomez and David Guangko.
Young guns Josh Jorge and Sean Ramos are also tipped to contend for the crown along with Luigi Guerrero, Elmer Jayloni, Ricardo Manotoc, Masaichi Otake, Don Petil, Roberto Poblete, Gilbert Purcia, Jacob Rolida and Paolo Wong.
Boosting the cast are Koreans Ha Tae Won, Kim Tae Hoon and Kim Tae Soo.
Rianne Malixi, who stunned a tough field to snatch the overall championship in the Phl Junior Amateur Open (Stroke Play) at Sherwood, banners the girls’ cast that also drew Laurea Duque, Laia Barro, Kristine Fleetwood, Kim Ga Yeon and Bang Hee Yeon.
For details, call NGAP at (02) 7065926 or Luisita at (045) 4912071 or visit www.ngaponline.net.