North, South renew LPGT Duel Dec. 16

MANILA, Philippines - The country’s ladies pros brace for another thriller of a shootout as they clash in the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour’s Duel 2 – North vs South – which fires off Dec. 16 at the South Links Golf Club in Las Piñas.

Inspired by the success of its inaugural staging last year, the sponsoring International Container Terminal Services, Inc. is putting up the second edition of what could be an annual series – a Ryder Cup-style showdown capping each LPGT season.

Like in the men’s series, the country’s top players from Luzon will battle it out with their counterparts from the Visayas-Mindanao region in the three-day tournament ending Dec. 18. Practice round will be on Dec. 15.

Team South trailed in the fourballs and foursomes formats but dominated the singles, winning five of eight matches to snatch a thrilling 9-7 victory in last year’s inaugurals at Canlubang Golf and Country Club’s South course last year.

Sarah Ababa and Barsy Leonen, who delivered the Duel-clinching victories last year, are back for Team South along with Chihiro Ikeda, Apple Fudolin, Lovelynn Guioguio, Eva Miñoza, Sylvia Torres, Anya Tanpinco and Tracy Que – all raring to make it back-to-back in the event backed by Nike, Pacsports, Custom Clubmakers and Sharp,

But Team North is out for a payback with back-to-back LPGT Order of Merit champion Cyna Rodriguez hoping to supply not only the firepower but also the inspiration for the likes of Riviera leg winner Jayvie Agojo, Jan Punzalan, Majorie Pulumbarit, Lucy Landicho and Lina de Guzman.

Former Philippine Ladies Open champions Heidi Chua and Mary Grace Estuesta also hope to provide the experience and stability for Team North in the event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

Play will be foursomes (alternate shot) and fourball (best ball) – four matches each – in the first two days with the singles – eight matches – slated in the final day. The first team to win 8.5 points clinches the Duel.

South Links, the newest golf club in Las Piñas, is also expected to offer a different kind of challenge for the golfing ladies with its tight fairways and unpredictable putting green the way it did when it hosted the ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour‘s final leg won by Mars Pucay last month.