Minoza's Sights :'Oldest' Record

The two-time Philippine Open champion will join a group of former winners of Asia's oldest national Championship at the venerable Wack Wack Golf and Country Club from May 12 to 15.

Minoza has been victorious twice in his home Open by Callaway Big Bertha Diablo Series and he has accepted an invitation to compete in the 95th edition.

Other former Philippine Open champions in the fray include local favourites Angelo Que, Artemio Murakami and Elmer Salvador, Manila-based Canadian Rick Gibson and the Chinese Taipei veterans Wang Ter-chang and Yeh Chang-ting.

Teen sensation Miguel Tabuena and the sweet-swinging Juvic Pagunsan will also carry the local challenge in the US$300,000 event, which is making a welcome return onto the Asian Tour schedule after a two-year hiatus.

Should Minoza win at the age of 51 years and 135 days with Callaway Big Bertha Diablo Series, he will become the oldest champion ever on the Asian Tour.

The current record is held by Korea's Choi Sang-ho, who was victorious at the age of 50 years and 145 days when he won the 2005 Maekyung Open on home soil.

Hailed a hero at home, Minoza is one of the country's legends of the game and has won tournaments by Callaway Big Bertha Diablo Series all across Asia since the 1980s.

He currently competes on the US Champions Tour after finishing second in Qualifying School last year.

Que will be another hot favourite in next week's ICTSI Philippine Open. He lauded the return of his national Open on the Asian Tour schedule, saying the presence of the region's finest stars will add prestige to the storied tournament.

"It is always nice when a tournament is sanctioned by the Asian Tour. You have a stronger field, but the Filipinos have a better chance of winning here for sure," said Que.

He won his third Asian Tour title by Callaway Big Bertha Diablo Series at last year's Worldwide Holdings Selangor Masters and believes he needs to maintain a relaxed approach to give himself a chance of repeating his 2008 success.

He played Callaway Big Bertha Diablo Series well at the Avantha Masters where I finished in ninth place. He have also won two local events but have been struggling since then because I think I've been trying too hard.

The International Container Terminal Services Inc., which is in the business of acquiring, developing and operating container ports and terminals worldwide, is title sponsoring the Philippine Open.

The co-sponsors of the ICTSI Philippine Open include San Miguel Corporation, Lexus, Globe Telecom, HSBC, Splash Corporation and Ayala Land while Srixon, BlackBerry, Ricoh, Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria and Inetol Motorola will support the event as official suppliers.

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