Filipinos upbeat as 1st LPGT golf unwraps in Taiwan

TAIWAN – The Ladies Philippine Golf Tour unveils its first co-sanctioned tournament abroad through the Party Golfers Ladies Open starting today at the National Golf Country Club in Miaoli County here, kicking LPGT’s foray in the international golfing stage offering rich money purses and featuring the best players and rising stars in the region.

“I’m very excited to be out of the country and playing against elite golfers in Asia. I’m looking forward to a fun-filled week here and hopefully come home with a win,” said one-time LPGA Tour campaigner Cyna Rodriguez.

The former three-time LPGT Order of Merit winner heads a five-player Phl crew in the $100,000 event co-sanctioned by the LPGT and Taiwan LPGA Tour, upbeat but wary of her chances against a crack international field on a windy, mountain-top course with winding but wide fairways and unpredictable putting surface.

“It’s actually short with reachable par-5s but could be tough with the wind,” said Daniella Uy, the former Junior World champion seeking a big finish in her fourth pro tournament against the big guns of the TLPGA Tour, including the circuit’s top six players.

The stellar field also includes TLPGA No. 2, Hsin Lee, third-ranked Szu-Han Chen, No. 4 Min-Jou Chen, fifth-ranked Yi-Chen Lio and No. 6 China Huang with LPGT leg winners Thais Renuka Suksukont, Wannasiri Sirisampant, Onkanok Soisuwan and Yupaporn Kawinpakorn toughening up the field in what promises to be an explosive start in LPGT’s first international sortie held as part of Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.’s effort to advance the growth of the Phl ladies pro golf.