Guido van der Valk
Guido van der Valk wants to come back with a vengeance.
After falling short in his bid for a third straight win last year, the Dutchman is determined to make up for lost ground and put his mark on the 2025 Philippine Golf Tour season.
His mission begins with the prestigious Country Club Invitational in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, set to tee off on January 28.
Van der Valk’s 2024 campaign started with promise. He came close in the first two legs, finishing runner-up twice and losing in a playoff.
But as the season unfolded, the Manila-based golfer struggled to find his rhythm, ultimately finishing winless. With the new season in sight, he’s recharged and ready to regain the form that has defined his career.
The TCC Invitational, with its P6 million prize fund, presents the perfect stage for van der Valk to make his comeback. Known for its challenging layout, the tournament draws a field of former champions and the top 30 players from the previous year’s Order of Merit.
Van der Valk has already etched his name in TCC history, claiming the title in 2020 with a narrow one-stroke victory over Clyde Mondilla, then returning in 2023 to dominate the event with a commanding five-stroke win over LJ Go after a two-year pandemic hiatus.
The competition this year will be fierce, with record-chasing Angelo Que aiming for his fourth TCC title and 2004 champion Tony Lascuña seeking his third and back-to-back wins. But van der Valk is no stranger to pressure, and he knows what it takes to come out on top at TCC.
While no player claimed multiple wins during the 2024 PGT season, van der Valk demonstrated consistency throughout, making the cut in all but one even.
He finished runner-up at Palos Verdes, lost in sudden death to Jhonnel Ababa at Apo, and retired early from the Splendido Taal leg.
In preparation for the challenge ahead, van der Valk has fine-tuned his game. The TCC Invitational, with its long, tough course, is a test of both skill and endurance. Van der Valk is eager to see how his hard work pays off.
A pro-am event on January 27 will kick off the tournament, with select professionals partnering with TCC members and amateur guests, all under the sponsorship of ICTSI. The event is organized by ICTSI chairman and CEO Ricky Razon to honor his late father, Don Pocholo, the company’s founder.
The competition will be fierce, with van der Valk joined by the likes of Reymon Jaraula, Keanu Jahns, Sean Ramos, Zanieboy Gialon, Hyun Ho Rho, Ira Alido, Ryan Monsalve, Jay Bayron, Art Arbole, Kakeru Ozeki, Randy Garalde, Daiya Suzuki, and Collin Wheeler. All will battle it out in what promises to be one of the most demanding events of the year.