Reigning Philippine Masters champion Jhonnel Ababa and Caliraya Springs winner Tony Lascuña lead a big number of touring pros taking part in the Professional Golfers Association of the Philippines pro-am tournament at the Aoki course of the Eagle Ridge Golf and Country Club in General Trias, Cavite starting on Thursday.

The two-day tournament stakes a total purse of P350,000 with the winning pro taking home P50,000.

Ababa, the winner last week at Villamor Golf Club, will team up with Bong Macalalad. They will tee off on the par-3 seventh hole in the company of Ira Alido and Romeo Francisco.

Lascuña, fresh from his stint in Taiwan, and amateur partner Stefano Tami will tee off on the fifth hole alongside fellow pro Jerson Balasabas and John Espejo.

Ninety-two players will tee off shot-gun style at 7:30 a.m.

The other prominent pros and their partners seeing action are Rufino Bayron and Beeson Cho, Richard Sinfuego and Amos Kai, Robert Pactolerin and Bianca Cuevas, Dino Villanueva and Teddy Ybanez, Josh Jorge and Masaichi Otake, Jay Bayron and Nemecio Villanueva, and Rico Depilo and Alex Acain, among others.

The touring pro and senior touring pros (50-59) will tee off on the gold tee while teaching pros, senior teaching pros (50-59) and regular amateurs will use the blue tees.

Playing off the white tees are senior teaching pros (60-and-above), lady pros and senior amateurs (55-and-above).

The first round will be played under the scramble format while the final round is alternate shots.

The 36-hole event is organized by the PGAP under president Johnel Bulawit.