A STELLAR field made up of the country’s top players and a host of Thai aces brace for a fierce showdown in the ICTSI Pradera Verde Ladies Classic which reels off Tuesday at the Pradera Golf and Country Club in Lubao, Pampanga.
LPGA Tour-bound Dottie Ardina, reigning Ladies Philippine Golf Tour Order of Merit winner Princess Superal and former OOM champions Pauline del Rosario and Cyna Rodriguez head the locals’ bid against a strong 19-player Thai delegation in the P1 million event put up by ICTSI which actually serves as the second leg of the 2019 LPGT season.
Yupaporn Kawinpakorn, who topped the Beverly Place and Summit Point stops of the just concluded 2018 LPGT circuit, banners the crack Thai crew which includes leg winners Onkanok Soisuwan and Wannasiri Sirirampant, guaranteeing three days of battle of shotmaking, iron game and putting among the perennial regional rivals.
Backiing up the troika are Alisara Wedchakama, Arpichaya Yubol, Chakansim Khamborn, Chatprapa Siriprakob, Chommapat Pongthanarak, Chonlada Chayanun, Chouvarest Chouskittisopon, Dolnapa Phudthipinij, Jaruporn P Na Ayutthaya, Kanokwan Yospak, Omnicha Konsunthea, Pattaporn Kraturuk, Pimpadsorn Sangkagaro, Preenaphan Poomklay, Trichat Cheenglab and Waralee Athcarerk.
Former many-time LPGT leg winner Chihiro Ikeda along with Daniella Uy, Marvi Monsalve, Alex Etter and Gretchen Villacencio firm up the local challenge in the event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. which also drew Taiwanese Yeh Hsin Ning.
Nine amateurs also toughen up the cast in the tournament backed by Custom Clubmakers, BDO, Meralco, Sharp, KZG, PLDT, Champion, Summit Mineral Water and K&G Golf, all going all out to spoil the pros’ expected showdown with club bet Annyka Cayabyab hoping to cash in on her local knowledge of the relatively flat but challenging layout, along with Junia Gabasa, Laurea Duque and Team The Country Club’s Eagle Ace Superal, Samantha Dizon, Mafy Singson and Nicole Abelar.
Ardina is coming into the event brimming with confidence, having gained a full card for next year’s LPGA Tour while Del Rosario is coming off a stint in the Cactus Tour in the US and Superal barely missed the cut in the Final Stage of the LPGA Tour of Japan last Friday, making them the early favorites in the upcoming event.
But Kawinpakorn and company have long proven their worth against their Filipina counterparts. In fact, the Thais have won six of the 11 tournaments in the recently concluded 2018 LPGT season, ensuring a shootout right from the start of the 54-hole championship.