Southern Ladies golf tourney gets underway at CCC today

CEBU, Philippines - The 49th Southern Ladies golf tournament unwraps today at the Cebu Country Club with a spirited battle for top honors seen not only in the centerpiece Championship division but also in classification groups among the leading and upcoming players from the country’s top golf clubs.

Reigning Hong Kong Open champion Jayvie Agojo, also a former Philippine Ladies Open titlist, joins the title hunt in the premier division tipped to be a close fight among her teammates in the ICTSI squad and against the leading bets from Del Monte, Riviera, Pueblo de Oro and Aguinaldo Golf Club.

Action is also expected to be fierce in Classes A, B, C and D where the top players of Tagaytay Highlands and Midlands, Sta. Elena, Forest Hills, Camp Aguinaldo Golf Club, Alta Vista, Mactan Island, Del Monte, Pueblo de Oro, Davao Golf, Orchard, Riviera, Manila Southwoods, Wack Wack, and host Cebu Country Club will be slugging it out for the crown in their respective divisions.

Meanwhile, Rosebud Sala, president of CCC Ladies Chapter, and Montito Garcia, president of CCC, will hit the ceremonial drive kicking off the three-day tournament serving as part of the NGAP-Globe Business Amateur Circuit.

Expected to crowd Agojo in the Championship division are teammates Lovelynn Guioguio, Sarah Ababa and Princess Superal, Aguinaldo’s Leni Cabili, Del Monte’s Eva Minoza, Rainstar Roque, Apple Fudolin and Ping Jarales, Riviera’s Jan Punzalan and Seo Yon Kwon, Southwoods’ Sunshine Baraquiel and Pueblo’s Carol Jeun, Jo Mi Sook, Chit Lastimosa and Eunice Park.

Focus will also be on the local bets, who are expected to flash their familiarity with the flat but tight, challenging layout in Banilad, ensuring a down-to-the-wire battle in the 54-hole tournament, sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission, WWWExpress-DHL Worldwide Express, Directories Phils. Corp. Yellow Pages, Leisure and Resorts World Corp, Security Bank and St. Luke's Medical Center with Ford's Inn as the official hotel.

Tipped to figure well are Hannah Wong, Ryojo Nacal, Jungja Bae, Lalay Lava, Eva Hino, Conchita Van Gelder, Lucile Colina, Yukiko Ushioda, Mercy Bejar, Flor Streegan, Mila Chan and Annie Libi.

Scoring will be based on Molave points system.

Also on tap in the event is the 36-hole team championship to be composed of four players each with the top three scorers counting for the squad. The team and seniors events will use the Stableford scoring system (net of handicap). (PR)(FREEMAN)