The Southern Ladies golf tournament fires off today with an expected shootout among members of the national pool, the local talents and a crack Korean contingent at the Pueblo de Oro Golf and Country Club in Cagayan de Oro City.
The par-72 course, measured at a little over 5,300 yards from the red tee, will be relatively short for the long hitters in the 90-player field with reigning Philippine Ladies Open champion Louise Manalo tipped to lead the attack along with ICTSI-backed teammates Chihiro Ikeda, Carmelette Villaroman, Sarah Ababa and defending champion Anya Tanpinco.
They will be joined by the likes of Eva Minoza, Apple Jeen Fudolin, Lovelyn Guioguio and Kristine Leonen who are raring to go and flash their familiarity with the layout while the Koreans, led by two-time champion Crystal Shin, are also fancied to crowd the Filipino players for the crown in the 46th staging of the 54-hole tournament organized by the National Golf Association of the Phils. (NGAP).
Meanwhile, Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Constantino Jaraula, Alice Ll. Andrada, NGAP director and chair of the ladies committee, and club president Rudy Menes will hit the ceremonial drive to kick off the event, sponsored by WWWExpress-DHL (trophies), Hans Brumann, DPC Yellow Pages, Koresco Hotel (official hotel), Oroport Cargo Handling Services, PARASAT Cable TV, Four S Agritrade and the Philippine Sports Commision. Hans Brumann will give jewelry raffle worth P35,000.
“The long hitters will definitely have the edge here and watch out for the Koreans, they can hit it long and straight. I expect a four-under par to lead and a 12-under total to win,” said Bong Lopez, the national team coach and the man at the helm of the ICTSI golf program.
Shin, who used to play for Del Monte, will suit up for Pueblo de Oro this time in the team competition of the three-day event, a four-to-play, three-to-count format tournament slated in the first two days along with the seniors tournament.
The individual competition will be played under the Molave scoring system while the team event will use the Stableford system (net of handicap).
Mizuno is staking a brand new golf set for hole-in-one feat on No. 13 while EMCOR is offering a Kawasaki Motor CT100 on No. 6 and Lechon Manok ni San Pedro a surprise gift prize on No. 2.
Tagaytay Highlands, Wack Wack, Manila Golf, Iligan Golf, Bacolod, Del Monte, Cebu CC, Iloilo Golf, Valley Golf, Riviera, Sta. Elena, Alabang, Phil. Navy, Manila Southwoods, Dumaguete, Orchard, Alta Vista and Pamplona are seeing action in the event. — end it//thanks