Thais seek to extend Phl Ladies reign

MANILA, Philippines - Three young shotmakers from Thailand set out for a battle royale with the country’s leading players and a slew of aces from five other countries in the 2015 Champion Infinity Philippine Ladies Open Golf Championship which fires off tomorrow at Wack Wack’s West Course in Mandaluyong City.

Chayanit Wangmahaporn and Pimnipa Wangmahaporn, a pair of talented 18-year-olds from the Thailand Ladies Golf Association join Kanyalak Preedasutthijit, 17, in the country’s premier ladies golf championship, all raring to extend Thailand’s domination of the event after Supamas Sangchan swept the last two editions at Mt. Malarayat in Batangas and Forest Hills Golf Club in Antipolo.

Sangchan, who beat Dottie Ardina in 2013 and turned back Princess Superal last year, has turned pro, leaving the cudgels for Chayanit, Pimnipa and Preedasutthijit, the reigning Singha Thailand Amateur Open champion, in what promises to be a wide-open battle for top honors in the event organized by Women’s Golf Association of the Philippines and backed by Metro Pacific Investments Corp. as major sponsor.

But focus will still be on Team ICTSI spearhead Superal, who is itching to kick off her 2015 campaign on a winning note after racking up 12 victories last year, including five straight to close out the season.

“Princess is raring to atone for her setback to Supamas last year. She also hopes to start the season the way she closed out her 2014 campaign – on a winning run,” said Team ICTSI coach Bong Lopez.

A 12-year-old Fil-Am, Zoe Antoinette Campos, and Hong Kong’s Vivian Lee are also entered in the event supported by minor sponsors Mega Fiber, the Philippine Golf Tour, PacSports and Shell Philippines and C2 as official beverage and Vermogen as official apparel.

Singapore is fielding in eight players, while Japan and South Korea have five and three, respectively, and one player from Australia will spice up the action in the event.