The 72nd Fil-Am Invitational, the biggest golf tournament this year in terms of participation, gets underway with the start of the seniors' competition at the Baguio Country Club and Camp John Hay Golf Club Saturday.
A total of more than 1,300 players from 240 teams, including 77 from overseas, will converge in Baguio City in the next two weeks.
Teams seeing action in the Fil division will play the first two rounds at CJH and the next two at BCC.
On the other hand, those competing in the Am bracket will start at BCC and end at CJH.
Teams are allowed to field five players per round, but only four will count.
The tournament, spread over six days, allows two rest days.
The fancied teams of Manila Southwoods and Luisita will not see action on opening day.
Only those entered in Seniors A, B, and C will tee off alongside regular teams from divisions F and G.
Unlike the regular division where perennial Manila Southwoods looms as the heavy favorite, competition in the premier seniors' Fil division is a toss-up between defending champion Southwoods and many-time winner Luisita.
The rivals headline the Fil bracket that includes Riviera Golf, and foreign squads Leeward Fil-Am of Hawaii and Mamala Bay.
In the Am championship class, Manila Southwoods' second team will be challenged by Dugong Bughaw, Megafiber, Srixon IMG, and Team Alpha.
On Thursday, Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong leads the ceremonial tee-offs ushering in the tournament. He was joined by Fil-Am Foundation board of trustees members Engr. Eliseo Lagman and Freddie Mendoza, Baguio Country Club general manager Anthony de Leon and Camp John Hay Golf Club GM Jude Eustaquio
The two-week event is held in partnership with Baguio Country Club, Camp John Hay Golf Club, The Manor, The Forest Lodge, and Le Chef.
The event presenters are 3K Rock Engineering and Construction Corp., Toyota, Boysen, and Columbia Sportswear.
The major sponsors are Palm Grove, Britanny Corp., and Asiatraders Corp. while minor sponsors are Time Cargo Logistics, Lola Nena's, K&G, Rudy Project, JTEN Sports Inc., Januarius Holdings, Beer Below Zero, and Tee Sports Gear.
Hole-in-one sponsors are Spes Construction Inc., Noah Business Applications, and Laus Group of Companies.
Daily Tribune and The Perfect Drive are media partners.