Asian Tour sets PHL Open in February 2012 at Wack Wack

Barring any hitches, the revered Philippine Open golf tournament will return to its original February play date in 2012 at the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club. The Asian Tour released its schedule for February to April with the Philippine Open, Asia’s oldest national championship, as the second of the initial nine legs from February 9 to 12. It will also feature the Myanmar Open, which will get back into the circuit and the launch of new event in Cambodia. The National Golf Association of the Philippines (NGAP), the owner of the PHL Open rights, is doubling its efforts to find sponsors to fund the organization and operation of the event. About $500,000 (or P21,500,000) is needed for the total $300,000 prize money and other vital expenses. The last two years have been challenging to the NGAP. It conducted an all-Filipino PHL Open in 2009 when it could not get enough financial support. Last year, it made a big comeback into the Asian Tour fold with the help of golf patron International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI). “We are delighted to announce our January to April Schedule for our players to plan their playing schedules. It will be a busy start to the new year with tournaments in Myanmar and Cambodia featuring prominently on our Schedule," Asian Tour Executive Chairman Kyi Hla Han said. The Qualifying School’s (Q-School) first stage kicks off January 11 to 14 at the Imperial Lakeview Golf Club, Springfield Royal Country Club and Majestic Creek Golf Resort in Hua Hin, Thailand. The Q-School second stage, from January 18 to 21, will be at the Springfield Royal Country Club and Imperial Lakeview also in Hua Hin. The formal season starts with the Zaykabar Myanmar Open at the Royal Mingaladon Golf Club from February 2 to 5 to be followed by the tournament at Wack Wack, original home of the PHL Open. The Handa Faldo Cambodian Classic will make its debut from March 14-17, followed by the second edition of the Panasonic Open-India at the Delhi Golf Club from March 29-April 1. The Maybank Malaysian Open, Indonesian Masters presented by PNTS and Ballantine’s Championship in Korea will be played in the month of April. The Avantha Masters, Maybank Malaysian Open and Ballantine’s Championship are jointly sanctioned with the European Tour. Apart from the eight Order of Merit events, the Open Championship International Final Qualifying – Asia will be played for the second successive year at Amata Spring Golf Club in Bangkok from March 1-2. — Adrian Flores/JVP, GMA News