The second Simone Asia Pacific Cup unfolds Thursday (Dec. 21) in Indonesia with defending champion Princess Superal expecting a heightened level of competition despite the absence of major champions with world No. 9 Atthaya Thitikul of Thailand and Japan’s Nasa Hataoka adding a touch of star power to the 56-player roster.
Superal scripted a narrative of triumph, outshining luminaries like New Zealand’s Lydia Ko, Korean Hyo Joo Kim and Hinako Shibuno of Japan, to claim her maiden pro championship worth $100,000 in last year’s inaugurals of the event at the Pondok Indah Golf Course in Jakarta, winning by three over former US Women’s Open champion So Yeon Ryu of Korea.
But the 26-year-old Superal anticipates a more challenging competition with Thailand and Korea fielding an impressive lineup of players eager to dominate both the individual and team championships. The 54-hole tournament, put up by the Asia Golf Leaders Forum to advance the development of women’s golf in the Asia Pacific region, offers not only a substantial total prize of $750,000 but also carries the allure of world ranking points.
The individual competition offers a total prize purse of $550,000 while the team event stakes a total pot of $200,000.
Superal, embracing the role of a key contender, has diligently prepared for the demanding battles head, flanked by a troika of equally-talented compatriots – fellow ICTSI-backed Bianca Pagdanganan and Dottie Ardina, and Daniella Uy.
Pagdanganan, riding high on the momentum of reclaiming her LPGA Tour card, forms a dynamic partnership with Superal in team play, amplifying the Philippines’ prospects for success after Superal and Pauline del Rosario finished second to Ryu and Bo Mee Lee last year.
Like Superal, the big-hitting Pagdanganan is also making a homecoming of sort to Pondok Indah, where she won the individual bronze and helped lift the Philippines to the gold medal finish in the Asian Games in 2018.
Ardina and Uy will make up the other PH squad in the 16-nation event that extends beyond individual performances with team dynamics also shaping the competitive landscape.
The Thai and Korean contingents, boasting a mix of seasoned campaigners and emerging stars, are tipped to add layers of intensity and drama to the competition.
Paul Park, sec-gen of the Asia Golf Leaders Forum, sees a spirited three-day clash of shotmaking and putting, mirroring the stirring triumph of Superal over a slew of heavyweights in the previous year,
“I have no doubt that another great battle with plenty of dramas is on the cards this week,” he said.
