THE Southwoods Invitational fires off on Monday with a huge field of 466 teams — 932 players in all — primed for a weeklong battle of competitive golf, camaraderie, and fun at Manila Southwoods’ Masters and Legends courses in Carmona, Cavite.
Ryan Abdon and John Kier Abron, who ruled last year’s staging of the host club’s premier member-guest tournament by capturing the overall gross team championship, return this year with new partners, adding another layer of intrigue to the event that brings together members and their guests for a unique blend of competition and fellowship.
Also setting out to defend their respective crowns are Abigail Lapid and Sarah Cruz (Division 2), and Romeo Chong and Ralph Chong (Division 4).
With new teams and partnerships making up the roster — surpassing last year’s 414-team cast — a spirited battle is expected for top honors in various categories, including the overall net championship in the 36-hole tournament spread over the next six days.
Sequential tee times on both courses start at 6 a.m. from Monday through Friday, before shifting to shotgun starts on Saturday set at 7 a.m. at the Masters and 7:30 a.m. at the Legends.
The competition features a 36-hole format, with each team playing one round on the Masters and one on the Legends layout. Teams will compete under the Team Aggregate using the Modified Stableford scoring system, a format that rewards aggressive play and keeps the leaderboard dynamic throughout the week.
While the tournament will crown overall gross and overall net champions, several other honors will also be contested, including titles in Divisions 1 to 5 and the Guests/Sponsors category, ensuring competitive balance among participants of varying skill levels. TMT