PHL Ladies Open tees off today at Wack Wack
THE 2017 edition of the Philippine Ladies Open Golf Championship tees off today at the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club’s West Course in Mandaluyong City with a cast of local and foreign aces all ready to make a go at the title. Leading the field of competitors is the streaking Yuka Saso, who comes in the tournament fresh from her wire-to-wire victory at the Philippine Amateur Golf Championship last weekend. Fifteen-year-old Filipino-Japanese Saso, runner-up in the Ladies Open last year, ruled the Philippine Amateur Open by beating Korean Hee Ji Kim by nine shots on a 279 aggregate. But despite the good form she is in, Ms. Saso said the Philippine Ladies Open cast is a tough field with players teeming with talent. “There are too many good players around, especially the Thais. So I’ll just pray and hope for the best,” said Ms. Saso, who also had banner year in 2016 which saw her win the World Junior Girls championship for a third time and reach the semifi nals of the US Women’s Amateur. Apart from talented foreigners from countries like Thailand, Taiwan, Malaysia, South Korea and Singapore competing, also expected to make a run at it are a host of local players which include Harmie Constantino, Sofia Legaspi, Bianca Pagdanganan, Diana Araneta, Felicia Medalla, Kristine Torralba, Mikaela Arroyo, Pauline del Rosario, Sofia Chabon, Mikha Fortuna, Abby Arevalo and Bernice Ilas.
In last year’s Ladies Open, hometown bet and now- pro Princess Superal stopped the stranglehold of foreigners on the title by taking a one-stroke victory of over Misses Del Rosario and Saso.
Before that, the Thais took the title from 2013 to 2015.
The Philippine Ladies Open Golf Championship 2017 is a blueribbon event backed by Lexus, Metro Pacific Investments, CranUTI, Texas Eagle, San Miguel Corp., Botanika, Enclave, Taishan Insurance Broker’s, Inc., Inquirer, Cherrylume, Alveo, Manila Golf, G&W Clubshares, Alabang Ladies Golf Chapter, Canlubang Golf Club, Forest Hills Golf Club, Sta. Elena Golf Club, Tagaytay Highlands, Gatorade, Ladies Philippine Golf Tour, Vermogen, Atty. Gilberto Duavit and Water World Trading, Inc.
For more details on the event, you can call Women’s Golf Association of the Philippines tournament chairperson Maisa Catindig at (632) 556- 4298 or e- mail maisa_ catindig@ yahoo. com or secretariat@ wgap- golf. com ( WGAP President Anna Haurie).