Around 253 teams with 1,340 players and counting will vie for titles in the much-awaited biggest and longest annual amateur golf tournament in the world – the 70th Fil-Am Invitational Golf Tournament.

The Fil-Am executive committee announced last week the two-phase tournament will be from Dec. 1 to 18 at Camp John Hay and Baguio Country Club.

The super seniors, seniors, and regulars F and G will be played Dec. 1 to 9 with the first three days dedicated as practice rounds. Tournament proper will be from Dec. 4 to 9. 

Local teams from CJH, BCC, and Pugo Adventure will vie for titles in the super seniors (70 years old and above) and seniors (60 to 69) divisions, along with the Megafiber and Luisita.

The Fil and Am championship flights along with the regulars A, B, C, D, and E are set Dec. 10 to 18 with the first two and half days set aside as practice rounds. Tournament proper for the second phase is set Dec. 13 to 18.

The contenders in the premier Fil and Am championship flights are Manila Southwoods, Royal Northwoods, and Forest Hills.

Southwood’s top junior golfer Yuto Katsugarawa has confirmed his participation while 2019 IMG World Junior champion Aidric Chan, also of Southwoods, might also see action in the second week.

Some of the team members competing in the premier championship flights are members of the Philippine Golf Team who will see action in the 30th Southeast Asian Games.

The confirmed number of teams for regular flights is 156 with 833 players and counting while the seniors division will have 96 teams with 507 players and counting.

More than 80 teams with more or less six players each team are still in the waiting list, which means they can be considered as substitute if some of the approved teams back out from the tournament.

The Fil-Am executive committee composed of CJH Golf Course Manager Tim Allen, BCC General Manager Anthony de Leon, and head of secretariat Roanne Galicia announced last week that coordination with concerned private and government offices has been made to ensure the tournament’s success.

Dozens of golfers from the Asia-Pacific Region will be in Baguio during the 18-day tournament.