Red-hot Heidi seeks third straight crown

Heidi Chua tries to keep her hot streak going in women’s golf this year when she leads the bidders in the 40th Southern Ladies Open slated Feb. 5-7 at the Cebu Country Club course.

Chua has won the first two events of the year, ruling the RP Ladies Open at Manila Golf Club before bouncing back from an opening 80 to snatch the DHL-NGAP Open championship at Canlubang Golf and Country Club last week.

The 26-year old national player can make it 3-for-3 for the year in the 54-hole event organized by the National Golf Association of the Philippines in cooperation with the Cebu Country Club, which has cut a reputation as one of the most prestigious events in women’s golf.

"I’m sure Heidi will be there fighting for top honors but I’m also sure she will be crowded by a host of challengers, especially her teammates in the national squad," said Alice Andrada, NGAP treasurer and chairman of its ladies committee.

The event starts with the captain’s meeting on Feb. 4 to be followed by the ceremonial tee-off to be led by PSC chairman Eric Buhain, NGAP president Rod Feliciano, Cebu CC president Douglas Luym, Cebu CC Ladies Chapter president Rosebud Sala, Andrada and Dr. Suga Sotto-Yuvienco, winner of the 1982 edition and a pioneer in the event.

Sponsors are the PSC, Philippine Airlines, Hans Brumann Jeweller, Marriott Hotel, DHL Worldwide Express/WWW Express, Mizuno, WG&A Ferry, Petron, San Miguel Corp., Smart Communications, Gopez Corp., DPC-The Yellow Pages, Nike, Hidden Spring and Perrier Inc., Mitsubishi Corp. and NGAP vice president Vice Admiral Luisito Fernandez.

Over 70 golfers have already confirmed their participation in the tournament, the entries coming from Alabang GC, Wack Wack, Southwoods, Navy, Canlubang, Aguinaldo, Orchard GC, Cebu CC, Bacolod Golf and Country Club, Pueblo de Oro, Negros Occidental GCC and Iligan GC.

Expected to challenge Chua for the title are Canlubang bets Carmellette Villaroman and Lucy Landicho, Southwoods’ Lora Roberto and Tracy Locsin, Aileen Rose Yao of Valley and defending champion Lina de Guzman, also of Cangolf.