Piccio, Ikeda boost LPGT cast

MANILA, Philippines - Mia Piccio, fresh from her impressive stint in the recent LPGA Qualifier Stage 1, and former SEA Games gold medalist Chihiro Ikeda signed up for the ICTSI Wack Wack Ladies Philippine Golf Tour, firming up the cast in the event unfolding tomorrow at Wack Wack’s West course.

Piccio and Dottie Ardina breezed through LPGA elims first stage in California with the former even contending for low medal honors before settling for joint third in a field of 245. That makes her an instant favorite in the 54-hole championship serving as the fourth leg of the five-stage inaugural circuit put up by International Container Terminal Services, Inc.

Ikeda, who placed second to Ardina in the ICTSI LPGT Canlubang leg last June, has also confirmed her participation after skipping the Eagle Ridge stop won by Cyna Rodriguez in runaway fashion last month.

But with Piccio and Ikeda in the fold, Rodriguez faces a formidable challenge as she tries to score a second straight championship and match Ardina’s back-to-back title romps at The Country Club and in Canlubang.

Ardina, meanwhile, has opted to stay in the US and prepare for the LPGA Qualifier Stage 2 in Florida next month.

But despite her absence, the chase for the top P100,000 purse is expected to be fierce with Piccio out to stamp her class, Ikeda raring to rebound from her Canlubang debacle and Rodriguez eyeing a repeat win in the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. and backed by Nike Golf, Pacsports, Gatorade, Sharp and Custom Clubmakers.

Also expected to crowd the troika are Jayvie Agojo, club bet Heidi Chua and Mary Grace Estuesta, all former Philippine Ladies Open champions, and former amateur stalwarts Lovelynn Guioguio and Sarah Ababa, Tracy Que, Reb Bareng, Lina de Guzman, Apple Fudolin, Lucy Landicho, Barsy Leonen, Eva Miñoza Marjorie Pulumbarit, Jan Punzalan and Sylvia Torres.

Amateur Princess Superal, the spearhead of Team ICTSI and a silver medal winner in the recent Asian Youth Games, also hopes to humble the pros after falling short at TCC, where she placed second, and in Canlubang, where she wound up third. The other amateurs vying in the tournament are Felicia Medalla and Harmie Constantino.