Local businessmen and foreign delegates took to the greens at the Manila Golf and Country Club for the return of the European Golf Cup.
Now on its 21st run, the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) together with Pru Life UK has organized the return of the annual sporting league to bring together golfers from the European-Philippine business community, international dignitaries, as well as representatives of multinational corporations.
The recently held event was attended by a hundred players and supported by more than 20 partners.
“We are immensely overjoyed with the turnout of our European Golf Cup,” said Florian Gottein, ECCP Executive Director. “This shows that many were looking forward to the tournament, especially following its sudden cancellation in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
“It is an honor to be holding our sporting events again as it provides another form of
camaraderie and fun for our members and colleagues, and we look forward to continuing hosting our Golf Cup in the coming years,” Gottein added.
The annual tournament began in 2001 as a way of networking for ECCP members and has now become one of the largest and most attended Golf Tournaments held by a foreign chamber in the Philippines.
This year, the Chamber has partnered with longstanding member Pru Life UK to co-present the event.
“While this is our first collaboration on the annual golf tournament, Pru Life UK enjoys a deep long-standing relations in our 26 years of membership since 1997 with the ECCP,” said Pru Life UK EVP and Chief Customer & Marketing Officer Allan Tumbaga. “So today, let us celebrate success, meaningful partnerships, and life.”
(From L-R: Pru Life UK Unit Manager Mr. William John Pesengco, ECCP Executive Director Mr. Florian Gottein, H.E Luc Véron and H.E Michel Parys)
The event had players competing individually and in a flight of four players. To properly commence the tournament, the ceremonial tee-off was led by H.E. Luc Véron, European Union Ambassador to the Philippines, and Mr. William John Pesengco, Unit Manager of Pru Life UK. Also in attendance was H.E Michel Parys, Ambassador of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Belgium.
In the afternoon, an awarding ceremony handed out special awards to players, as well as the top prizes for the overall champions. Moreover, other fun giveaways, including a round-trip ticket provided by Turkish Airlines, flat-screen TVs by Globaltronics, and a P175k cash prize courtesy of Pru Life UK, were also raffled off to participants.
The overall low gross champion with a gross of 77 was Tonito Payumo, while the overall net champion with a gross of 82, a handicap of 14, and a net of 68 was Michael Montero.
In the Ladies’ Division, Erika Cesar took away the top prize, with Paul Chua, Willy Tee Ten, and Bernard Morillo also clinching the Championship title in the Men’s Divisions III, II, and I respectively.
As for the Special Awards, those awarded with the longest drives were Jiro Ramos of the Blue Tee (314 yards); Melvin Caculitan of the White Tee (281 yards); and Erika Cesar of the Ladies Division (215 yards).
Most Accurate Drive was won by Atty. Leslie Calimag (3 inches), while nearest to the pin was Christopher Po (3.5ft), and the longest putt was claimed by Paul Victor Aquino (21.4 ft).
Moreover, chosen model players from the men and women divisions were Edmund Padilla and Atty. Cybill B. Uytiepo, and with Ambassador Luc Veron winning the boldest shot award.
The event was further supported by Venue and Host Partner Cesar C. Cruz & Partners Law Offices; Hole in One Partner Autohub Group, Turkish Airlines, and Pru Life UK; Classic Hole & Special Award Partners Converge FiberX, Crown Asia Chemicals Corporation, Bosch Philippines, Eastern Communications, Camaya Coast, Trends And Concepts, and SGS; Official
Official Hotel Partner Ascott Hotel; Official Drinks Partner Diageo; Official Beverage Partner VIDA; Digital Media Partner Globaltronics; Merchandise Partners Asian Expat Mobility, Breakthrough Properties, Rustic Creations by AnJ, P&A Grant Thornton; and Raffle Prize Partners ARAW, bai Hotel Cebu, Globaltronics, NESCAFÉ Gold, OGAWA, Porsche Design, Pru Life UK, Turkish Airlines, Vision Express Philippines, and Fridays Puerto Galera.
The 2023 European Golf Cup marks the return of the tournament following the start of the pandemic in 2020.