Chase on for Luzvimin golf crown

MANILA, Philippines - The Luzvimin Golf Invitational unwraps today at Bacolod Golf and Country Club with Del Monte Golf Club going for a title repeat and Manila Southwoods seeking a payback in Binitin, Murcia, Negros Occidental.

The Del Monte ladies, led by now pros Lovelynn Guioguio and Apple Fudolin, romped off with a 29-point win last year in Cagayan de Oro, ending Manila Southwoods’ four-year reign in the annual event organized by Women’s Golf Association of the Philippines (WGAP).

Del Monte, however, will parade a practically new lineup in the seven-to-play, five-to-count format event headed by Rainstar Roque and Rhea Mae Langgamin along with Starlyn Roque, Martina Miñoza and Annika Mendoza.

They will be up against a solid Southwoods crew composed of Katrina Gonzalez, Beachie Abiera, Marie Claire Ong, Christine Naidoo, Claudine Garcia and Sandy Velhagen.

The event is actually set for three days but the organizing WGAP decided to reduce it to a 36-hole affair after some teams coming from storm-hit Manila failed to arrive due to cancelled flights.

Still, a wide open race is seen with Villamor, Orchard, Forest Hills, Negros Occidental, Manila Golf, Riviera and the host Bacolod GCC joining Del Monte and Southwoods in the premier Emerald Division.

Forest Hills is also eyeing a second straight victory in Ruby Division on a team built around Cecilia Tan, So Han Uy, Christina Ojeda, Monica Ignacio, Natividad Toribio and Jee Cabochan although it faces a tough challenge from Apo, Southwoods, Camp Aguinaldo, Orchard, Iloilo Golf and Victorias.

Villamor, meanwhile, heads the cast in Pearl division which also includes Davao, Pueblo de Oro, Baguio and Negros Occidental.

WGAP is also putting up a special division with Iloilo Golf, Valley and Alabang making up the group. Also up in the event, held under the Molave scoring system, is the individual competition in all categories.