Local bets favored in Philippines Ladies Open

MANILA, Philippines — The locals are coming into the Philippine Ladies Open in full force, all primed up for three days of battle of shotmaking and putting against a slew of foreign bidders who opted to stay put for the 58th staging of the event which gets going Feb. 18 at the posh Manila Golf Club in Makati City.

The organizing Women’s Golf Association of the Philippines said a number of campaigners from the US, Taiwan, Singapore and other neighboring countries have backed out due to the nCoV threat, leaving 68 players to dispute the crown in the country’s premier championship.

Still, bets from Japan, Guam, Australia, Indonesia and three players from the US, led by Kristin Oberiano, who totes an index of 0.1, and one from Singapore signed up for the tournament, all aiming to break the expected domination of the Filipinas in the event sponsored by San Miguel Corp., Diamond Motors, Sunsports and Eva Air.