Tough trek to top of NTCC starts as play shifts to match at Dye

Inquirer Group of Companies president and CEO Sandy Prieto-Romualdez and Inquirer president and CEO Paolo Prieto flank Guyito, the official mascot of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, during the tournament opening. —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Three-time champions Gary Sales and Matet Salivio qualified high in classification and will start the arduous trek towards back-to-back National Tournament of Club Champions (NTCC) titles when the match play stages get going on Thursday at Eagle Ridge’s Dye layout.

The 43-year-old Sales was the men’s third seed after shooting a 74 at Faldo on Wednesday, drawing Justin Tambunting, the Alabang champion, who shot an 82 as all three divisions advanced the top 16 players to the KO stages.

Valley’s Roy Nudalo bagged top ranking after matching par 72 that sealed a first round assignment against No. 16 Genard Villalon, the Royale Tagaytay champ who fired a 91, even as Jonar Austria drew 215th-ranked Ayala Greenfield’s Norman Dela Peña after qualifying second by shooting a 73.

“I’m just excited because this is my first time playing this tournament,” the 46-year-old Nudalo, a former jungolfer who has held Valley’s top crown four times in the last six years, told the Inquirer. “I want to make the most out of this experience. But it is going to be really tough.”

Salivio beat out Sarah Cruz for top-ranking in the women’s division via a countback after both scored 75s, with Salivio drawing No. 16 Ma. Cecilia Madriaga and Cruz battles Kim Kyung-ae, respectively, in the first round play.

Gary’s wife, Marienelle, who is seeing action for the first time here, will be up for a rough first round after advancing as the 14th seed and drawing Alabang champion Mariana Reyes.

“It just gets harder by the day,” Gary Sales said in a separate interview as he took a look at the draw that turned out after the 18-hole qualifying. “Jonar (Austria) and I are on a collision course, in the semifinals if we are both lucky to survive that long.

“That will be a very interesting match-up for sure,” added the former pro who now operates a string of pro shops around the country.

Sherwood Hills’ Jung Kyung-young fired a 77 to be the Senior’s No. 1 seed, drawing Raffy Sempio in the first round, as prohibitive favorite Rodel Mangulabnan fired an 86 to be the 13th seed who will play No. 4 Song Seong-seob of Eagle Ridge.

This year’s edition of the NTCC presented by Lexus kicked off in star-studded style with Inquirer Group of Companies president and CEO Sandy Prieto-Romualdez and Inquirer president and CEO Paolo Prieto hitting two of several ceremonial drives.