Rianne Malixi, coming off an explosive start to a new season, sets out for another major championship run, joining a crack mix of local and foreign bidders in the Philippine Ladies Open from Feb. 18 to 20 at the Manila Golf Club in Forbes Park in Makati City.
Malixi bested Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Abby Arevalo in the third sudden hole to snare the crown in the National Stroke Play, which used to be the Philippine Amateur Open, at Riviera three weeks ago in a victory that further underscored the growing repute of the rising 12-year-old who racked up three victories in the National Amateur Tour last year.
That included a triumph in the Philippines Junior Amateur Open at Sherwood Hills where she won the overall championship despite playing in a lower age-group category.
The bespectacled shotmaker, who dreams of playing in the LPGA Tour someday, also reigned in the Philippine Amateur Open Match Play and Northern Luzon Regional Championship.
But she braces for a stronger, tougher challenge in the upcoming event, organized by the Women’s Golf Association of the Philippines and accredited by the World Amateur Golf Ranking, with fellow young campaigner Eagle Ace Superal, Arnie Taguines, Mafy Singson, Junia Gabasa, Mariel Tee, Nicole Abelar, Laurea Duque, Sam Dizon, and Arevalo bolstering the local roster.
But they will have their hands full against a slew of top and rising foreign players from Taiwan, Japan, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, and Saipan, among others, all primed up for three days of shotmaking and mental toughness for the crown held by now pro Yuka Saso the past two years.
