Yao seeks repeat against top rivals in Ladies Open

Hardwork beckons for Aileen Rose Yao as she guns for a titular repeat against scratch player Ria Quiazon, former champion Carmelette Villaroman and a horde of challengers in the 2002 Philippine Ladies Open starting today at the west course of the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club.

Quiazon, the many-time national player taking a break from her studies in the US, has been tagged as the early favorite owing to the diminutive Yao’s lack of tournament play since her dramatic win last year.

Yao won by a stroke after a heartbreaking double-bogey on the last hole by Taiwanese Hung chin-huei.

Carmelette Villaroman, Wack Wack member Heidi Chua and Lina de Guzman are the other top local bets in the tourney supported by the Philippine Sports Commission, Carlos Palanca Foundation, Nice Shot DNF, Sentry Fire & Theft Safes and the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

The foreign contingent is bannered by Sarah Henderson of the Hong Kong Golf Club who carries a handicap of +2.7. Players from England, New Zealand, Singapore and the United States are also in the cast.

Trophies designed by Arturo Luz will be awarded to the winners.

The tournament officially opened yesterday with visiting LPGA standout and PSA Athlete of the Year Dorothy Delasin, NGAP president Rod Feliciano, Wack Wack president Ben Abalos and WGAP president Gina Tuason among those hitting ceremonial balls.

The local contingent, meanwhile, is made up of entries from Sta. Elena, Valley, Del Monte, Villamor, Wack Wack, Canlubang, Navy, Alabang, Orchard, Manila Southwoods, Aguinaldo, Riviera, John Hay and Iloilo.

The Ladies event is the other half of Wack Wack’s Open double since it is also slated to host the Philippine Open leg of the Davidoff Tour this coming March.