Michael Bibat sets out for a second championship in two months but unlike the last time out, the two-time pro tour champion would be relying on a partner to produce the desired result in the first Sambalilo Golf Pro-Am tournament set Aug. 5-6 in Cavinti, Laguna.
Bibat outdueled multi-titled Tony Lascuña and topped a pro championship at Eagle Ridge last month, ending a near-decade of winless campaign in a victory he hopes would fuel another title run with amateur partner Edwin de Ocampo in this weekend’s event held in conjunction with the province’s Sambalilo Festival celebrations.
Sixty-three other teams are vying in the two-day tournament offering a top P100,000 purse from the total prize fund of P500,000, headlined by some of the country’s top pros, including Lascuña, Jerson Balasabas, Jay Bayron, Jhonnel Ababa, Rupert Zaragosa and Joenard Rates.
Lascuña will play alongside Kevin Su; Balasabas teams up with Atty. Saiddi; Bayron has tapped Russel Salazar, Ababa links up with Bong Macalalad, Zaragosa hopes to draw the best from top amateur Kristoffer Arevalo, and Rates will team up with Ariel Azarcon while Fernando
The scramble format will be used in the first day before play shifts to four-ball in the next with the top 10 teams to receive cash prizes and those from 11th to last will get consolation prizes.
Listup is ongoing with fee pegged at P10,000 per team. All players, including the pros, will be allowed to use a cart. Practice rounds are set from Aug. 1 to 4 starting at 7 a.m.
Others tipped to contend for the crown are the pairs of Albin Engino and Cavinti Vice Mayor Milbert Oliveros. Orlan Sumcad-Lindsey Salilig, Ferdie Aunzo-Noli Alvarado, Rufino Bayron-Bobby Iñigo, Robert Pactolerin-Vince Cuevas, JR Salahog-Jojo Simon, Mhark Fernandoi-Jade Liong, Arnold Villacencio-Joboy Macatangay, and Anthony Fernando-Nolan Enriquez.