Team Pradera starts title-retention bid

ASIAN Games champion Yuka Saso kicks off Pradera Verde’s title-retention bid Wednesday at the start of the 13th Philippine Airlines Ladies Interclub golf team championships at the Palos Rancho Verdes Golf and Country Club in Davao City.

The 17- year- old

collecting two gold medals in the recent Asiad in Jakarta, Indonesia. “Mag-eenjoy langako.Tinginko magandanamanangtsansanaming,” said Saso who set a record 59

last year.

Pradera Verde made a smashing debut last year in Cebu City, clob- Yuka Saso Fil- Japanese team remain, Saso and Annyka Pineda- Cayabyab, 14- year- old daughter of Lubao Mayor Mylyn Pineda Cayabyab.

Reinforcing the squad are four Malaysian juniors, a Korean teen based in Angeles City and Rianne Malixi, the youngest at 11 years old.

Pradera Verde captain Norman Sto. Domingo said Saso and Ko-

Cayabyab or Malixi and one of the Malaysians backing them up.

Except for the Malaysians who were set to arrive later in the day, the rest of the squad played their

The Malaysians making their debut in the country’s premier ladies’ team event are Ika Nass- Eliza Mae Kho, 17.

Manila Southwoods is coming to the event with a re-tooled team, infusing new blood in its desire to restore its dominance in the annual event.

Led by internationalist Sofia Chabon and Sunshine Baraquiel, the Carmona-based squad is tapping Annika Guangko, Mafy Singson, Laurea Duque, Mariel Tee, Samantha Dizon and Tin Torralba, who played for Pradera last year.

“Our players have been together for more than a month now and are playing fairly well,” Southwoods captain Claire Ong said. “The players are in high spirits.”

With Southwoods opting not to defend its Founders division title, Alabang and Del Monte are

Returning to defend their crowns are Sportswriters champion Eagleridge and Friendship titlist Wack Wack.

On Tuesday, PAL president Jaime Bautista led the ceremonial tee-off ushering in the four-day tourna-

Bong Velasquez and Vic Suarez.

The Molave scoring system will be used in the four-to-play, threeto-count team event. An even par score is worth 54 points.

Major sponsors for the 13th PAL Ladies Interclub include Airbus, Bombardier, People Asia, UM Broadcasting Network and Primax Broadcasting Network.

Other sponsors are TFC, Mastercard, SEDA Hotel, SM Supermalls and Banco de Oro. Donors are Asia Brewery and Philippine National Bank.