The Aboitiz Invitational, one of the premier championships on the Philippine Golf Tour Asia calendar, braces for its grand eighth staging next month with one of the strongest casts being assembled for the $100,000 event on Sept. 5-8 at the Orchard Golf and Country Club’s Palmer Course in Dasmariñas, Cavite.

“We are firming up the cast that will feature the local tour’s big guns and a slew of PGTA campaigners from Asia and other parts of the world, making the field one of the strongest in years,” said Colo Ventosa, general manager of the organizing Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. “The Aboitiz Invitational continues to be a strong platform for aspiring local and foreign pros to further improve and excel in the sport.”

The Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc. (AEV), which has major stakes in power, banking, food, infrastructure, and land, joined the golf tour in 2011 and has since become one of the keenly awaited tournaments in the circuit for its prize money and participation.

“As an organization that upholds excellence, Aboitiz prides itself in being at the forefront of promoting the game of golf in the country. Through this annual tournament, the pros, particularly the local players, can improve their games as they compete with some of the best talents in the region,” said AEV Chief Executive Officer Erramon Aboitiz.

The Palmer Course has hosted several major tournaments, including the Johnnie Walker Championship in the mid-90s, with the upcoming event serving as the fifth leg of the second season of the region’s newest circuit put up by the International Container Terminal Services, Inc.

Miguel Tabuena edged Angelo Que in a thrilling duel to win by one at the Manila Southwoods last year with the same kind of finish expected to unfold in two weeks time. The PGTA campaigners will also be coming into the 72-hole championship fresh from a long break after Jhonnel Ababa broke a six-month spell by ruling the fourth leg at Forest Hills last month although the local aces plus a slew of foreign aces will be competing in top form coming off a series of PGT tournaments.

Four different players actually made it to the PGTA podium this year with Aussie David Gleeson scoring a breakthrough at Luisita last April and local ace Jobim Carlos duplicating the feat at Riviera last June.

Jay Bayron, winner of the Aboitiz Invitational in 2011 in Cebu and in 2016 at Wack Wack, guns for a rare treble, his confidence boosted by his victory in the PGTA third leg at Southwoods leg, also last June.

Elmer Salvador will also be gunning for a third Aboitiz crown although the veteran Davaoeño shotmaker, who won back-to-back in 2012-2013 in Cebu, has struggled in form the last few years while Tony Lascuña, winner at Riviera in 2014, is out to snap a long title drought in the circuit backed by Custom Clubmakers, Meralco, Champion, Summit Mineral Water, K&G Golf Apparel, BDO, Sharp, KZG, PLDT and M.Y. Shokai Technology, Inc

Juvic Pagunsan, who ran away with the 2015 crown at Southwoods, has made the Japan PGA Tour his base the last few years and will likely skip this year’s edition of the event although he competed and won in the PGT Negros two weeks ago, edging Carlos on the second playoff hole.

After the Aboitiz Invitational, the PGTA will head back to Luisita for the CAT (Central Azucarera de Tarlac) Open on Oct. 23-26 while the Summit Point Golf Club in Lipa City, Batangas will stage the seventh leg on Oct. 31-Nov. 3 with the last three events still being firmed up.