Coming off a punishing stint at The Country Club, the ladies of the Philippine Golf Tour take on a less-demanding but equally challenging Legends layout as they slug it out in the ICTSI Manila Southwoods Ladies Championship beginning today in Carmona, Cavite.
While the heat and the wind will remain a factor, the water hazards and other risks present in the TCC Ladies Invitational are not too much of a concern for the 54-player field this week although they will have to deal with the bunkers that littered on the 6437-yard Jack Nicklaus designed course.
But all have expressed confidence and strong chances for the coveted crown in the R1.5 million tournament serving as the sixth leg of the 2018-19 LPGT following their campaign in the TCC Ladies ruled by world No. 1 Sung Hyun Park of Korea.
Yupaporn Kawinpakorn will spearhead a crack Thailand side out to reassert its might in the circuit put up by ICTSI while Princess Superal and Pauline del Rosario banner the locals’ challenge.
The Thais won five of the 11 titles disputed last year with Kawinpakorn winning at Beverly Place and Summit Point.
“I’m still trying to make some adjustments with my irons and I got my new coach. But I think I have strong chances (of winning) with the course in great shape and I can play relaxed compared to last week where there were lots of consideration like wind and water,” added Kawinpakorn, who drew Rosario and Korean rising star Hwang Min Jeong in the featured flight at 7:20 a.m. on No. 1.
Superal, who had the rare chance of playing alongside Park in the championship flight before ending up fourth, hopes to put in harness the lessons she learned from the world’s best, particularly in handling oneself in pressure-packed situations.
