Canada’s Pinoy Senior Golf Player To Invade PAL Tour

by ALEX P. VIDAL

RICHMOND, British Columbia — The winningest player in the Pilpino Golf Association (PGA) here vowed to continue "bringing home the bacon" in the sport he loves most as he turned 60 years old last Nov. 20.

Tom Raguero Sr., who learned how to play golf through a former boss in 1978, said his biggest inspirations are his wife, Lucilyn Deza, and sons, Ryan Tom and Tommy, Jr., who were all present in a simple birthday bash at the South Ocean Seafood Restaurant, Garden City Road, Richmond, British Columbia.

Raguero was Low Gross champion from 1988 to 1989. It was only from 1990 to 1992 that he failed to pocket the title when PGA decided to forego the awarding of Low Gross.

Gross Strokes is the actual score (number of strokes) before the player’s handicap has been considered. Gross score is the actual number of strokes taken by a player for hole or round before the player’s handicap is deducted.

Gross is the total number of strokes taken on a round, before the player’s handicap is deducted to determine the net score.

Raguero dominated the tournament from 1993 to 2006. He was interrupted by Jessy Marcelo who snatched the plum in 2007 and Michael Son who won in 2008.

This year, Raguero showed them who’s the boss when he again dominated the tour-nament. His other accomplishments in golf were the following: Gawad Kalinga low gross-2007, second runner-up in the Philippine Airlines (PAL) Tour 2008 in Bacolod City, Philippines, "Player of the Year" in 1995, 1999, 2002 and 2009, and Master Champion: 1993, 2000 and 2009.

TOUGH PEERS

Despite his reputation as a one of the finest golf players in the league, Raguero acknowledged other "outstanding" peers, namely: Toti Epondulan, Butch Dulay, Jessy Marcelo, Tom Carracedo, Nitoy Cervantes, Alex Cervantes, Butch Cusi, and Reden Hernandez.

He also considers Efren Doctor, Jessie Castillo, Ed Hermano, Dr. Dan Vargas, Binky Cruz, Danny Villacrusis, Rey Fortaleza, Jojo Hernandez, Art Makalintal, Danny Yambao, Johnny Casillan, Rene Bahena and Manny Yatco as among the top golfers in the league who regularly gave him a good fight for the top trophies.

"When I was not busy, I saw to it to practice regularly and I bring with me my entire family," said Raguero who stressed the importance of family in his passion to excel.

Age, he said, is not a hindrance in his desire to continue playing even as he stressed that his body and mind become more active when he continued to play golf.

More On Pacquiao – Dela Hoya

The seven former world champions and four current world champions from Mexico who were at ringside during the "Dream Match" On December 6 last year at the MGM Grand, mourned the fall of their last hope to redeem the pride of Mexican ring warriors saying they were shocked with Oscar De La Hoya’s 8th round technical knockout loss to the "Mexican killer" Manny Pacquiao.

"I’m speechless," shot former world bantam-weight champion Carlos "Canas" Zarate (66-4, 63 KOs) who was active in the ring from 1970 to 1988. "I thought Oscar would easily beat Pacquiao." Pipino Cuevas (35-15, 31 KOs), former world welterweight champion, who was active from 1971 to 1989, said he could not believe what he saw and was stunned when De La Hoya was uncapable of dodging Pacquiao’s killer straights.

"He was slow and appeared bloated," he said. Humberto "Chiquita" Gonzalez (43-3, 31 KOs), former world light-flyweight champion, who was active from 1984 to 1995, admitted he was terrified when De La Hoya missed some of his lethal blows and could not hit Pacquiao who moved his head like Mike Tyson. Ruben "Puas" Olivares (88-13-3, 77 KOs), active from 1967 to 1988 and former world bantam-weight and featherweight champion, avoided the post fight conference with Team De La Hoya.

Sources said he was dismayed that De La Hoya did not put up a gallant stand and also did not show up in the post fight press conference. Eric Gomez, De La Hoya’s childhood friend, said the defeated superstar was brought to the hospital accompanied by Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaeffer "for a precausionary move." Those who also expressed disgust and disappointment with De La Hoya’s fall were former world lightweight champion Rodolfo "Gato" Gonzalez (81-7-1, 71 KOs), Juan Manuel Marquez (49-4-1, 36 KOs), world bantamweight and super bantamweight champion Rafael Marquez (37-5, 33 KOs), super bantam-weight champion Israel "Magnifico" Vasquez (43-4, 31 KOs), Oscar "Chololo" Larios (63-6-1, 39 KOs). /MP