Asian Ladies team tourney reels off at John Hay

BAGUIO CITY — Twenty-five teams, led by last year’s runner-up Manila Southwoods-Masters, are joining the fourth Camp John Hay Asian Ladies Team Championship which formally opens today via a team captains’ meeting at the main function room of the Camp John Hay Golf Club here.

Tournament director and club general manager Jeric Hechanova and the rest of the organizing committee will meet the skippers of all the participating squads a day before three-day event proper, featuring some of the best lady golfers, starts tomorrow.

Rudy Project, CJH Dev. Co., CJH Manor Hotel, Club Leisure Management Inc., Federal Management and Maintenance Inc., Le Chef at the Manor, Fila, Sustagen Premium, Wilson Sports, Golden Nutritious Food Corp., TSAJ Sales Inc., Palm Garden, Samsonite, Golforce Inc., and Mario’s Restaurant are the sponsors.

The challenging par-69 course redesigned by Jack Nicklaus’ Golden Bear International, with its lightning-fast greens and pine tree-lined undulating fairways, will test the skills of the record field of more than a hundred players representing various golf courses in the country.

"The ladies should read the greens carefully. That’s the key to scoring well here," said Hechanova of his unsolicited tip to the players.

Based on the handicaps submitted by each team, Southwoods-Masters, Tagaytay Highlands 1, Camp John Hay 1 and Camp Aguinaldo-Sampaguita are projected to crowd for the Group I division title with Wack Wack opting not to participate in the tournament organized by the golf club of John Hay.

Bernadette Abiera, Sandy Velhagen, Claudine Garcia and Connie Campos will banner the Cavite-based Southwoods. Hedy See, Marilen Yaptangco, Totelle Dizon, and Farrah Imperial will play for Tagaytay Highlands 1.

Completing the rosters are Cha Daciano, Joy Sevilla, Leonor Corpuz, and Lilibeth Ratcliffe for CJH 1 and Josie Untal, Malou Belendres, Mabel Salivio, and Artie Mendiana for Camp Aguinaldo-Sampaguita.

Also seeing action in the premiere Group I are Forest Hills-Palmer (Cristine Lava, Violy Pegels, Cathy Fong, and Jee Cabochan), Sta. Elena (Rio Co, Daisy Jackes, Lily Chan, and Marilen Bantug) and Riviera (Joy Uy, Gilda Medestomas, Josie Amon, and Lahaina Mondonedo).