International golfers to vie in PH Ladies Open

A PACKED field that features international talent is expected to compete for the crown in the Philippine Ladies Open Amateur Golf Championship as the tournament tees off today at the Wack Wack East Course in San Juan City.

Premium will be on shot-making and putting as the battle for this year’s title is tipped to be a wide-open one, given the depth of the competing field that includes the leading players from Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia and Singapore and a course noted for its toughness with its tight fairways, thick roughs and sleek putting surface.

Reigning Queen Sirikit Cup champion Dottie Ardina is eager not only to nail her first Open diadem on the event’s golden staging but also to atone for her final round fold-up in last Sunday Philippine Amateur at Canlubang, where she holed out with an 84 and limped home in seventh after staying in title contention in the first two rounds.

Lovelynn Guioguio won that one, adding the Phil-Am title to her Samsung Open diadem fashioned out late last year at Summit Point. But the 24-year-old Bukidnon native has opted to downplay her chances for the crown in the event.

“I really don’t expect to score back-to-back victories. Wack Wack’s East is tough, especially the greens, and I’m still trying to polish my putting stroke,” said the soft-spoken Guioguio.

Truly, the ICTSI-backed bets, who include Andie Unson, Sarah Ababa, Sunshine Baraquiel and Daniella Uy, also a winner of last week’s Philippine International Junior Golf crown, will be in for a tough outing with Yupaporn Kawinpakorn, the 2007 champion, leading a crack Thailand contingent that includes Southeast Asian Games silver medalist Pinrath Pinrath Loomboonruang and top jungolfers Savitree Thavong and Pathamaporn Ariyamatepreecha. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio