THE 68th Fil-Am Invitational Golf Tournament will have a late start this year when the Department of Tourism becomes a partner with a launching that could be staged some 250 kilometers from the greens of Camp John Hay and Baguio Country Club.
“It will be a late opening for this year with the tournament to officially start only on Nov. 29 and end on Dec. 16,” said Fil-Am spokesman Andrew Pinero of BCC.
This year, the Fil-Am golf is expected to hole out on Dec. 16, nearly one week later from last year’s Dec. 10 finale when Manila Southwoods hoisted the premier Fil Championship trophy.
“It usually ends at around the early part of the second week of December,” said Pinero, who added that launching will be held for the first time in Manila with the DoT as host.
This is in line with the department’s campaign to invite more foreign tourists to the Philippines and Baguio, said the former TV broadcaster.
“Although that is tentative yet,” he added since the organizing committee, where he is a member, needs yet to finalize with DoT.
Moreover, the late staging of the Fil-Am is a request of many United States players who need to celebrate Thanksgiving Day with their family.
“It has been a clamour by many US based players including American players of Filipino blood,” he said.
Many of the 1,300 or so players come from the US and its territories or servicemen stationed in other parts of the world who come to Baguio for the two-week golfing experience in the chilly, late-year weather of the city.
This year’s practice rounds start on Nov. 29 until Dec. 1 and tournament proper begins on Dec. 2 until the seventh for the senior side where San Miguel defends in the Fil-Champ side.
On Dec. 8, practice rounds for the regular Fil-Am begins with the tournament proper to commence on Dec. 11.
Manila Southwoods defends its titles in both sides.
Yuto Katsugarawa, who shot an eight-under for 152 points last year, will lead the Fil Championship flight, while veteran Junjun Plana skippers the Am side, which won by 88 points last year.