3-way tiff looms as So Ladies fires off

MANILA, Philippines - Andie Unson tries to foil the highly anticipated Dottie Ardina-Chihiro Ikeda showdown as she joins the title hunt in the Southern Ladies golf tournament which begins today at the Bacolod Golf and Country Club in Murcia, Bacolod.

Her confidence boosted by her victory in the last week’s The Country Club Invitational where she emerged the low amateur. Unson, 16, hopes to re-display her top form and play a more mature game in a bid to keep her win run going early in the season.

But the recent winner of the Philippine International Junior Golf crown will be facing a pair of aces out to redeem themselves from their failed bid at TCC with Ardina seeking a second straight championship in the 54-hole tournament organized and conducted by the National Golf Association of the Phils.

Ardina hit a birdie on final hole to nip Ikeda in a thrilling title duel last year in Iloilo with another down-to-the-wire finish again expected with Ikeda raring to get back at her tormentor and likewise add the crown to her Philippine Ladies Open diadem last month.

But focus will be on Unson, who hopes to compensate her drawback to Ardina and Ikeda off the tee with a solid iron game and steady putting over the tight, rolling fairways that require accurate iron shots.

“While premium is on driving on this course, I think Andie has a big chance because her ball striking is solid and she is playing with a lot of confidence and putts well,” said ICTSI golf team and national women’s team coach Bong Lopez.

The 48th staging of the annual event was launched yesterday through the traditional 18-hole Lam-Am tournament with Philippine Sports Commission chair Richie Garcia, Philippine Olympic Committee chair Monico Puentevella, NGAP sec-gen Edgar Arceo Jr., NGAP auditor and NGAP ladies committee head Alice Andrada and Murcia Mayor Andrew Montelibano, and Leandro Lopez Montelibano, treasurer of the host club, hitting the ceremonial drives.

Also on tap are the 36-hole team competition and the seniors division to be played under the Stableford scoring system (net of handicap).

The centerpiece event will be disputed under the Molave scoring format with Jayvie Agojo also fancied to contend for the crown in the tournament backed by the PSC, Kaiser International, Directories Phils. Corp (DPC) Yellow Pages, Hans Brumann Jeweler, WWWExpress, DHL Express and Business Inn, the official hotel.

Agojo, the former Phl Ladies Open winner, is trying to make a comeback to big-time golf after a long absence, falling short to nail her first victory with a runner-up finish in the recent China Amateur Open.

Also in the roster are veteran campaigner Lovelynn Guioguio, Sarah Ababa and Sunshine Baraquiel of the ICTSI golf squad and the leading players from Alabang, Tagaytay Highlands, Orchard, Aguinaldo, Iloilo, Bacolod, Valley, Pueblo de Oro, Villamor and Riviera.