Bacolod to stage Southern Ladies

MANILA, Philippines –  Action in the Southern Ladies golf tournament, featuring members of the national team and the leading junior players, shifts to Bacolod next month when the 48th staging of the annual event is held Feb. 3-5 at the Bacolod Golf and Country Club.

Dottie Ardina heads the stellar field that includes her teammates in the ICTSI golf squad while a host of talented players from the country’s leading clubs are also in the fold, all ready to get a crack at the crown in the three-day tournament conducted by the National Golf Associaiton of the Philippines.

Registration is ongoing with deadline set on Jan. 31 according to NGAP. Fee is pegged at P2,500. For details, contact NGAP at (02) 5179778, fax (02) 706-5926, 0917-560-7074 (Susan Facundo) or email at [email protected] or visit NGAP website at www.ngaponline.net.

Listup is also open at the Bacolod Golf and Country Club at (034) 4730179 or fax (034) 4461794 or contact Stella at 0915-2079149 or 0918-9246771 or email [email protected].

Events on tap are the individual, team competition and seniors division with the LAM-Am and practice round set on Feb. 2.

Ardina nipped Chihiro Ikeda in a thrilling final hole showdown at the Iloilo Golf and Country Club last year, sinking an 18-foot birdie putt to claim a one-point victory under the Molave scoring system.

They are expected to slug it out for the crown again this year, along with a slew of others, including local bet Mia Piccio, making this year’s battle a wide-open race.

The individual competition is set over 54 holes and will use the Molave scoring format while the seniors and team event, a four-to-play, three-to-count format, will be played in the first two days over 36 holes using the Stableford scoring system (net of handicap).

Aside from the centerpiece Championship Flight, other titles to be disputed are Classes A, B, C and D. The seniors division will be for players 55 years old and above.

Others tipped to join the title chase are players from Tagaytay Highlands, Wack Wack, Manila Golf, Iligan Golf, Bacolod, Del Monte, Cebu CC, Valley Golf, Riviera, Sta. Elena,Alabang and Phil. Navy.