MANILA, Philippines - Dottie Ardina hopes to nail the only missing jewel in her wide trophy collection as she shoots for her first Philippine Ladies Open diadem against a tough international field beginning Jan. 11 at Wack Wack Golf and Country Club’s East course.
The many-time Junior World champion actually got a crack last year, taking charge in the first day only to lose steam in the last two rounds, losing by six to two-time champion Chihiro Ikeda at The Country Club.
But the 17-year-old spearhead of the ICTSI golf squad is all primed up this year, raring to open her campaign with a victory right on the golden staging of the country’s premier ladies golf championship sponsored by Champion Infinity.
“I’ve prepared hard for this and I’m in tip-top condition,” said Ardina. “But it will be tough since there are a lot of good players. Kung para sa akin, sa akin talaga, kung hindi okay lang.”
The reigning Queen Sirikit Cup champion will be facing a hordes of challengers in the 54-hole event organized by the Women’s Golf Association of the Philippines, including fellow ICTSI teammates Andie Unson, Sarah Ababa, Sunshine Baraquiel, Lovelynn Guioguio and former champions Jayvie Agojo and Cyna Rodriguez.
The event also drew a slew of foreign players, including SEA Games silver medalist Pinrath Loomboonruang, who will lead a talent-laden Thailand squad out to end the Filipinas’ domination of the event.
Loomboonruang, who nipped Ardina for the individual gold medal in last year’s Santi Cup, the ladies side of the Southeast Asia Amateur Golf Team Championship, is seeking to become only the third Thai player to win the country’s premier ladies championship after Rika Dila in 1984 and Yupaporn Kawinpakorn in 2007.
She will be joined in the title hunt by top jungolfers Savitree Thavong and Pathamaporn Ariyamatepreecha along with Suthavee Chanachai, Jittakarn Chandraviroj, Pornvipa Sakdee, Supamas Sangchan, Arporn Maneerux, Busara Tanphhipat, Molrudee Mahattanakul, Sasitorn Chokwatana and Sida Raksangob.
Also in the fold are Dutch Maureen Nijhof, Indonesians Sito Calcote and Victoria Chandra, Malaysians Edora Abdullah, Norlida Anis, Lynda Bala, Sylvia Belinggi, Sally Chai Mei Lin, Joan Chin, Annie Chin May Yong and Rabeahtul Dato, Vanessa Fitzgerald, Merina Gan, Wong Leh Hee, Alice Paran Tigan, Shirley Poh, Marilyn Raja, Sern Siew Kien, Maria Wong and Ireen Teng Kim Geok.