Pinay, Thai aces clash as Pradera Ladies begins

LUBAO, Pampanga – Expect an early shootout among the best of the best with the rest, including a slew of talented amateurs, ready to spring a surprise in what promises to be an explosive start in the ICTSI Pradera Verde Ladies Classic at the sprawling Pradera Verde Golf and Country Club complex here Tuesday.

Dottie Ardina, for one, can’t wait to get going, bringing with her a game honed up by a number of runner-up finishes in the Symetra Tour that secured her a full card for next year’s LPGA Tour. She tees off at 8 a.m. against Thais Dolnapa Phudthipinij and Chouvarest Chourkittisopon.

Pauline del Rosario also hopes to mark her return to the circuit she dominated last year on a triumphant note, brandishing an improved swing she expects to put her in good stead against the long hitters in the fold. She tangles with Thai Chommapat Pongthanarak and Daniella Uy at 7 a.m.

Princess Superal is also upbeat of her chances, oozing with confidence coming off a series of qualifying tournaments in Japan. Though she failed to make the grade in the Final Stage of the LPGA of Japan Tour, the first Filipina to win the US Girls Junior crown remains confident of pulling it off this week. She kicks off her title drive against Thai Jaruporn P Na Ayutthaya and club bet amateur Annyka Cayabyab at 8:30 a.m.

Former three-time Ladies Philippine Golf Tour Order of Merit winner Cyna Rodriguez is also out to snap a long title spell in the circuit put up by ICTSI and organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. She starts at 8:10 a.m. with Thai ace Yupaporn Kawinpakorn and Taiwanese Hsin Ning Yeh.

Kawinpakorn, meanwhile, is all primed up for a third victory in the season about to end as she spearheads a huge 19-player Thai delegation out to reassert its domination of the circuit, marveling over the well-kept layout inside the vast 700-hectare Pradera Verde in Barangay Prado Siongco.

“Pradera is I think the best course I played. It is well-maintained and the greens and fairways are great,” said Kawinpakorn, who romped off with three-shot victories at Beverly Place and Summit Point in the 2018 LPGT calendar that also saw Thailand win four other tournaments. “But the field is tough, the players are tough and I need to play smart with a lot of bunkers and water hazards. It’s flat and not too long and I think a two-under card per day will win it.”

Backing Kawinpakorn are former LPGT leg winners Onkanok Soisuwan and Wannasiri Sirisampant along with Alisara Wedchakama, Arpichaya Yubol, Chakansim Khamborn, Chatprapa Siriprakob, Chonlada Chayanun, Kanokwan Yospak, Omnicha Konsunthea, Pattaporn Kraturuk, Pimpadsorn Sangkagaro, Preenaphan Poomklay, Trichat Cheenglab and Waralee Athcarerk.

Alex Etter, Gretchen Villacencio, Marvi Monsalve and many-time LPGT winner Chihiro Ikeda are the other local players vying in the tournament, that also drew top amateurs Junia Gabasa, Mafy Singson, Laurea Duque, Eagle Ace Superal and club bet Cayabyab.