Del Monte mainstays join Ladies PGT hunt

MANILA, Philippines - Kristine Leonen and Apple Fudolin, spearheads of Del Monte team in the PAL Ladies Interclub, signed up for the ICTSI Ladies Philippine Golf Tour, upbeat of their chances in the inaugural pro event which begins tomorrow (Wednesday, May 15) at The Country Club in Laguna.

Although they will be up against the best of the old and the new of Phl ladies golf, Leonen and Fudolin, also veterans of the Southern Ladies Open and a number of amateur tournaments, remain confident of their respective title bids in the 54-hole tournament offering a total money purse of P500,000.

They will join former teammate Eva Miñoza and a number of talented players, including three former Philippine Ladies Open winners and former mainstays of the ICTSI ladies amateur team in the hunt for the crown worth P100,000.

Former amateur standouts Dottie Ardina and Jayvie Agojo head the field, which also features former PLO champions Mary Grace Estuesta and Heidi Chua, in the event put up by ICTSI in its continuing effort to help develop Phiippine golf, produce world-class talents and provide the country’s top golfing ladies a circuit of their own.

Five legs have been lined up by the organizing Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. for the circuit’s maiden season, which hopes to expand and lure foreign competitors next year.

Other venues being eyed as hosts are Wack Wack, Southwoods, Camp John Hay in Baguio and Canlubang with the Asian Ladies Team Championship, an annual event at John Hay, also expected to be included in the circuit later in the year.

Chihiro Ikeda, also a former PLO winner and SEA Games gold medalist, begged off from participating to honor a previous commitment to play in a qualifying event on the Japan Ladies Tour.

Carmelette Villaroman, winner of Phl Ladies Open in 1995 and coach of the ICTSI ladies squad, was also set to see action but could not make it on time for the event.

Others in the fold are Sarah Ababa, Red Bareng, Lovelynn Guioguio, Anya Tanpinco, Sylvia Torres, Lucy Landicho, Lina de Guzman, Marjorie Pulumbarit, Jan Punzalan and Tracy Que, wife of three-time Asian Tour champion Angelo Que.

Sisters Nikki and Sam Bruce, who topped the recent ICTSI LPGT Qualifier at Cangolf’s South course, lead the amateur cast in the event, along with ICTSI team mainstays Princess Superal, Pauline del Rosario, Sofia Chabon and former PLO champion Cyna Rodriguez, Miya Legaspi, Yuka Sasu, Daniella Uy, Annika Cedo, and Nicole Constantino.