Homegrown stars seek historic crown in 1st DigiPlus Philippine ADT Open

MANILA, Philippines — Fresh from a breakthrough victory that reaffirmed his enduring class, Angelo Que heads into the inaugural DigiPlus Philippine ADT Open carrying both confidence and the hopes of the home crowd as he leads a formidable Filipino contingent in the $100,000 championship beginning Wednesday, June 17, at the Luisita Golf and Country Club in Tarlac.

The three-time Asian Tour champion arrives with momentum firmly on his side after capturing the Philippine Golf Tour title at Caliraya Springs last month, a victory that underscored his readiness to contend against another elite international field.

But Que will face an immediate challenge right from the opening round.

The reigning PGT Order of Merit champion has been grouped with Thailand’s Poom Pattaropong and India’s Aman Raj, with the trio set to tee off at 11:50 a.m. from No. 10 on the demanding Robert Trent Jones Sr.-designed layout. Known for its narrow fairways, strategic hazards and premium on accuracy, Luisita is expected to provide a stern test from the very first shot.

Que spearheads a deep local cast determined to keep the coveted championship trophy on Philippine soil and make a strong statement in the tournament’s maiden staging on the Asian Development Tour calendar.

Among the leading local contenders is Sean Ramos, currently the highest-ranked Filipino on the ADT Order of Merit at No. 10 after five events. Ramos begins his campaign at 7:20 a.m. from the first tee alongside Thailand’s Nitithorn Thippong and American Henry Chung, confident of positioning himself early in contention.

Also expected to figure prominently in the title race are established PGT campaigners Keanu Jahns, Clyde Mondilla, Rupert Zaragosa, Guido van der Valk, Zanieboy Gialon and Jhonnel Ababa, all eager to capitalize on their familiarity with local conditions.

The country’s rising generation is likewise well represented, with Russell Bautista, Jeffren Lumbo, Ryan Monsalve and Kristoffer Arevalo aiming to make their presence felt against the region’s emerging stars.

Adding further local interest are amateurs Rolando Bregente, Andres Lorenzo and Jed Dy, together with junior standouts Shinichi Suzuki and Ralph Batican. While facing a steep challenge against seasoned professionals, the young hopefuls are expected to gain invaluable experience competing in a tournament of this magnitude.

Yet the road to victory will be anything but easy.

The international field is loaded with talent and led by current ADT No. 1 Nicklaus Chiam, who tees off at 7:30 a.m. alongside Thailand’s Amarin Kraivixien and Hong Kong’s Hoho Yue.

Another player drawing considerable attention is Thailand’s Waris Manthorn, whose familiarity with the venue could prove a significant advantage. Manthorn captured the ADT Players Championship at Luisita last year and returns seeking to replicate that success. He opens his campaign at 8:15 a.m. from No. 10 with Silvester Tan and Batican.

Despite the formidable challenge posed by the visiting stars, the Filipinos remain optimistic. Their extensive experience on Philippine courses, coupled with recent successes on the PGT, has fueled confidence that the championship can remain in local hands.

Jahns, in particular, enters the week motivated by more than just the pursuit of a title. The big-hitting Filipino-German standout is looking to bounce back from a recent setback on the local tour and views Luisita as the perfect stage for redemption. He will be paired with England’s Thomas Plumb and Korea’s Seung Park in a 12:25 p.m. start from the first tee.

Beyond the strength of the field, Luisita itself looms as one of the tournament’s biggest challenges.

Widely regarded as one of the country’s finest championship courses, the layout demands a delicate balance between aggression and restraint. Its tree-lined fairways and strategically placed hazards tempt players into taking risks, but wayward shots can quickly derail a round. Over four days, success will likely hinge not only on power and shot-making but also on discipline, precision and smart course management.

Adding another layer of intensity to the competition is a prize that extends beyond the tournament trophy.

Sponsored by DigiPlus, the event offers the top two Filipino finishers coveted spots in the International Series Philippine Open set for November at Manila Southwoods. With a pathway to one of the country’s most prestigious championships at stake, local players have even more reason to deliver their best performances this week.