BACOLOD. – Premium will be on accuracy and the knack to face terrors lurking on the tricky Marapara greens as the ICTSI Negros Occidental Classic presented by More Power unwraps Wednesday here.
Guido van der Valk, who swept the last two legs of last year’s seven-leg edition of the Philippine Golf Tour then dominated the circuit’s flagship tournament — The Country Club Invitational — last month, sets out as the marked player among the crack cast all primed up for four days of battle of skills and wits at the quaint par-72 layout.
“It’s all about combination of good drives because it’s (Marapara) pretty tight and you have to hit good irons because the greens are small,” said Van der Valk. “I’m really looking forward to these two weeks and play on a couple of my favorite courses.”
Iloilo will host the next stop next week to cap the two-leg Visayan swing of the circuit put up by ICTSI and organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.
“Dapat dito diretso kang mag drive, at ‘yung putting, kasi medyo mahirap ang greens dito,” said Clyde Mondilla, who with Van der Valk, will be as much tested as the rest of the starting field in the 72-hole championship which stakes a total prize of P2.25 million.
While winning the first tournament of the new season would surely boost one’s confidence, not to mention gaining momentum, the men of the tour are coming into this week’s kickoff leg upbeat and grateful for what promises to be a busy year for them.
“I’m super excited kasi after the Razon Memorial Cup, we have one month to prepare for this,” said Mondilla, who will test debuting pro Gab Manotoc and Nilo Salahog’s mettle at 8 a.m. on No. 1. “I practiced and trained every day, so I can say that I like my chances.”
