AIMING for a triumphant leap from the amateur to the professional ranks, former Junior World champion Aidric Chan trekked from Cagayan de Oro where he played in the PAL Interclub, to Davao to compete in the Philippine Golf Tour Qualifying School unfolding Tuesday at the South Pacific Golf and Leisure Estates.
Chan will be one of 107 players, including 34 international aspirants, vying for 30 slots in the 72-hole eliminations. With his quality of play and adequate amateur credentials, Chan is expected to easily capture one of the slots.
Chan's record include a win in the boys’ centerpiece division in the Junior World in San Diego in 2019, the same year he clinched the pro-am championship with Rey Pagunsan at Splendido.
Those who will earn cards will have little time to adjust as the first leg of the Philippine Golf Tour starts on March 12-15 at the nearby Apo Golf and Country Club.
This year’s Q-School, organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc., marks the first time it is being held in Mindanao, a testament to its stature as a breeding ground for golf talents. It will be held at the par-72 layout designed by Arnold Palmer and opened in November, 2019.
After 36 holes, the top 60 and ties will advance to the final two rounds with the Top 30 securing Category 6 berths in this year’s PGT circuit. Those falling out the Top 30 will be placed in Category 7.
Chan will be joined by Manila Southwoods teammates Lanz Uy and Ryan Monsalve in Q-School. Other amateur hopefuls include Timothy Co, Enzo Fregil, Marc Lu, Vince Lusterio, Jr., Reynante Manulat, Tom Marcelo, Raul Miñoza, Edmar Salvador, Jr. Niño Soberano, Airon Sorino, Sean Ty, Michael Uy and Luigi Wong.
Leading the roster of local pro players are rising stars Kristoffer Arevalo, Josh Jorge, Leandro Bagtas, Jonas Magcalayo, Ivan Monsalve, Enrico Gallardo, Edward Reyes and Carlos Packing, alongside seasoned campaigners Rufino Bayron, Anthony Fernando, Elmer Saban and Mhark Fernando.
Foreign bidders
International contenders bring an added layer of competition, including former two-time Q-School topnotcher Toru Nakajima, along with fellow Japanese Ueda Daiki, Koji Inoue, Masashi Kawaguchi, Kei Matsuoka, Tennoshin Ogawa and Daiya Suzuki.
The Korean contingent, led by Minwoo Kim and Tae Soo Kim, features strong competitors like Myungchal Hwang, Mingi Kim, Gyuhyun Lim, Gwon Minwook, Seungchan Park and Min Hyeok Yu, while Australian Peter Stojanovski, Aussie Nathan Park and Thai Saksit Jairak add further international flair to the competition.
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