FROM the duo of Jennifer Rosales and Dorothy Delasin to Angelo Que and young Dottie Ardina, Filipino golfers had their moments, too, in the year just passed.

Rosales and Delasin scored a breakthrough title in the Women?s World Cup in South Africa, Que pulled off a dramatic one-shot win in the Philippine Open and qualified for the British Open, while Ardina bagged a third crown in the Junior World Championship in San Diego, California.

Their exploits served as among the key highlights of Philippine sports in 2008, enough for them to lead the major awardees to be honored in the SMC-Philippine Sportswriters Association Annual Awards Night at the Alegria Lounge of the Manila Pavilion Hotel on Feb. 20.

Boxing sensation Manny Pacquiao has been handpicked as the Athlete of the Year by the country?s oldest media organization consisting of editors and sportswriters from the different national broadsheets and tabloids.

For his success in boxing, where he?s now universally recognized as the best pound-for-pound fighter, the 30-year-old southpaw fighter from General Santos City will also be enshrined to the PSA Hall of Fame during the two-hour ceremony.

The event is backed by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. for major sponsor and supported by the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Shakey?s, Accel, Philippine Basketball Association, Philippine Basketball League, National Capital Region Athletic Association, International Container Terminal Services Inc., Smart, Purefoods, Ginebra, Ever Billena, Harbour Centre, Environment Secretary Lito Atienza, Pharex, Games and Amusements Board and Mighty Sports Corp.

Both former Athlete of the Year winners, Rosales (2004) and Delasin (2000 and 2001) began 2008 for RP sports with a bang when they turned back the Korean pair of Ji-Yai Shin and Eun Hee Jii by two strokes to run away with the title in the fourth edition of the Women?s World Cup in South Africa.

The feat made them the first RP duo to rule the tournament while earning between themselves $280,000 in prize money.

Not to be outdone, Que putted his way to the Philippine Open title, winning Asia?s oldest running pro golf tournament by a single stroke over Australian Gavin Flint following a thrilling final-round duel at the East course of the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club.

The victory netted him $47,550 and became the 14th Filipino to triumph in local soil.

Que also earned a slot in the British Open in a stint where he fell short of missing the cut as gusty winds battered Royal Birkdale. Nonetheless, he was the first Filipino in 10 years after Frankie Mi?oza to make the grade in the oldest of the four major championships in men?s golf.