Namchok Tantipokhakul and Wisut Artjanawat, winners of two of the first three legs of the third Philippine Golf Tour Asia, set out for another shot at the PGTA crown as spearheads of a crack Thailand side all primed up for the ninth Aboitiz Invitational which gets going Wednesday (Sept. 4) at Wack Wack’s East course.
Ratchapol Jantavara and Tawan Phongphun, who finished 1-2 in this year’s PGTA Qualifying Tournament at Luisita, are also in the fold, raring to join the growing roster of Thai winners in the region’s emerging circuit put up by ICTSI in 2017 as platform for local and foreign pros to hone their skills and at the same time to compliment with the existing regional circuits.
Other Thais aiming for top finish in the $100,000 championship organized by Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc. and Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. are Pasavee Lertvilai, Chonlatit Chuenboonngam, Kammalas Namuangruk, Donlapatchai Niyomchon, Natthapong Niyomchon, Tawit Polthai, Puk Pradittan, Varanyu Rattanaphiboonkij, Nirun Sae-Ueng and Pachara Sakulyong.
But Tantipokhakul and Artjanawat will surely be the marked men in the four-day championship with the former seeking a follow-up to his one-stroke victory of Finland’s Teemu Putkonen in the kickoff leg at Luisita last April and the latter snapping a long title drought with a record win at Daan TPGA Open last May, the first PGT Asia event to be staged abroad.
Outside of the Thais, other foreign bets tipped to contend for the top $17,500 purse are Tarik Can, Sam Gillis, Lexus Keoninh, Charles Lee, Matt Lutz, Brett Munson, Joshua Salah and Sean Talmadge of the US, Aussies Tim Stewart, David Gleeson, Sam Gervinas, Fidel Concepcion and Jerram Chudleigh, Japanese Issei Mori, Keita Sudo, Nayoa Takahashi and Seiji Yanagisawa, and Shin Seung Woo, Park Jun Sung, Moon Seung Ryul, Lee Sang Min, Lee Hyun Jun, Jung Chae Won and Hwang Myung Chal of Korea.
Also in the hunt are Thammasack Bouahom of Laos, Gabriel Cheok and Gregory Foo of Singapore, Spain’s Rafa Culla and Salvador Paya Vila, Teddy Ho of Hong Kong, Scotland’s Julian Hood and Ryan Hood, Englishmen Matt Killen and George Twyman, Jesus Rafael Para of Venezuela, Luke Trocado of South Africa and Argentine Emilio Parodi.
Jay Bayron, on the other hand, will lead the local challenge with the veteran Davaoeñeo campaigner also going for a personal milestone – a record third win in the event that has become one of the most sought-out championships this side of the region.
Bayron ruled the inaugural staging of the event in its home base in Cebu in 2011 and edged Gavin Green of Malaysia by two when the Mandaluyong layout hosted the Aboitiz Invitational in 2016.
Other locals vying in the tournament are former winners Tony Lascuña and Elmer Salvador, four-time PGTA titlist Jhonnel Ababa, and former leg winners Jobim Carlos, Justin Quiban and James Ryan Lam.
Meanwhile, a select group of pros will test the fabled East layout one last time tomorrow (Tuesday) in the traditional pro-am tournament where they will be paired with officials and guests of the event’s chief backers, including ICTSI, PLDT Enterprise, Meralco, BDO and PGT Asia official apparel Pin High.