Tight race seen in Phl Ladies Open

MANILA, Philippines - With a power-packed cast of foreign entries and a talent-laden bunch of local talents, the battle for this year’s Philippine Ladies Amateur Golf Championship crown is expected to be close when it is staged Jan. 12-14 at The Country Club in Laguna.

Cyna Rodriguez ran away with last year’s title at Manila Southwoods, beating ICTSI teammate Lovelynn Guioguio by seven strokes. But this time, the US-based defending champion, playing out of Univ. of Southern California, will have her hands full against a field teeming with talent.

The roster includes reigning Malaysian Amateur Open champion Diana Tham, Thai ace Yupaporn Kawinpakorn, veteran internationalist Ines Chandra Putri of Indonesia, Canlubang-based Ikuko Kito of Japan and Korean scratch players Sun Hyun Park, Heyon Ji Kim, So Li Jung and Ji Eun Ha.

Twelve other Malaysians, five more Koreans, four Taiwanese, two Chinese and four other Thais are in the fold – all ready to do battle against the Filipino bets in the 54-hole tournament organized and conducted by Women’s Golf Association of the Philippines.

Rodriguez and Guioguio will be joined in by fellow ICTSI mainstays Dottie Ardina, Mia Piccio and Chihiro Ikeda, who is also out to re-claim the title she won in 2008.

Irina Gabasa, the talented Cebu-based lass who beat Kawinpakorn in match play for the Philippine Amateur crown at Del Monte last year, is also in the fold, along with former champion Jayvie Agojo and youngsters Andrea Unson, Princess Superal, Ma. Andrea Legaspi and Daniela Uy.

The event also features the leading players of the various golf clubs in the country, including those from Sta. Elena, Eagle Ridge, Southwoods,Valley Golf, Orchard, Riviera, Tagaytay Highlands, Alta Vista, Forest Hills, Pueblo de Oro, Cangolf, Del Monte and Navy.

Also on tap are the Class A and Class B events, the composition of which will be known after 36 holes.

For details, contact WGAP’s Lydia Reyes at 0917-8399248 or log on to wgap-golf.com or email [email protected].