RP ladies Open lures 90 players

Ninety players from eight countries are seeing action in the 2001 Philippine Ladies Amateur Open golf champion-ship which fires off Wednesday.

For the first time, the Ladies Open will be moving out of its old home, the Manila Golf Club, and will be held at the fabled east course of the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club in Mandaluyong.

Represented in the event won last year by Sri Lankan Thuhachini Selvaratnam are the countries of Australia, Hong Kong, England, Korea, Macau, New Zealand, Taiwan and host Philippines.

Ushering in the three-day championship, sponsored by Dunkin’ Donuts, is the ceremonial tee-offs tomorrow by Rod Feliciano, president of the NGAP; Sports commissioner Richie Garcia, WGAP president Gina Tuason, and Ben Abalos, president of the host club.

Two Taiwanese hotshots, Hung Cin-huei and Shin Huei-Ju, are expected to shoot it out with local frontliners for the top plum.

Aileen Yao, runner-up last year to Selvaratnam, heads the local cast that also includes former champion Carmellete Villaroman-Calimag and her Berlin World amateur teammate Ruby Chico-Walker, Lina de Guzman, Lucy Landicho and Heidi Chua.