Ardina opens Q Sirikit campaign

CEBU, Philippines - me out strong in the face of an expected charge by the region’s top guns, headed by world No. 1 Lydia Ko, as she begins her title-retention drive in the Queen Sirikit Cup today at the Tanah Merah Country Club’s Garden Course in Singapore.

The 18-year-old Filipina shotmaker will be the marked player in the fold, becoming the top draw for beating a crack field to claim the individual crown over Korean aces Hyo Joo Kim and Ji Hee Kim in a down-to-the-wire finish in India last year.

She, however, faces a tougher outing this week with Ko out to foil her back-to-back title bid and snap New Zealand’s 13-year drought in team competition of the annual event also known as the Asia-Pacific Invitational Golf Team Championship. (FREEMAN)