Southwoods-Masters opens PAL ladies record bid

MANILA, Philippines - Fancied Southwoods-Masters squad sets out for a record fifth straight Philippine Airlines Ladies Interclub title today, hoping to take charge early and avoid being put in the same back-to-the-wall situation it was in last year.

With a team spearheaded by The Country Club mainstays Abegail Arevalo and Sofia Chabon, the Carmona-based bets are again installed as the solid picks against a Cebu Country Club side raring to end the Carmona-based squad’s domination of the event.

The veteran Lora Roberto, Missy Legaspi, Annika Guangko and playing captain Marie Claire Ong are the other Southwoods mainstays expected to contribute heavily in the first day for the defending champions.

The centerpiece Championship Division and the Friendship will play its first round today at the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club, formerly Marapara, layout that will definitely play a lot longer than its 5,500-plus yards.

Tomorrow, action in the Founders and Sportswriters Divisions will start with all four brackets to play their respective final rounds on Saturday.

Arevalo has two victories in different continents this year and, together with Robert and Chabon are favorites to dispute the individual championship along with top Cebu CC bet Lois Kaye Go.

“We still have a chance,” Go said early in Cebu CC’s practice round yesterday. “We have been practicing hard for the past two months to prepare for this. We still like our chances.”

Last year, Cebu CC bungled a formidable lead in the final day to lose by one at Alta Vista in Cebu. Because of their respective team’s average handicaps, only SW-Masters and Cebu CC are entered in the Championship division.

“It’s virtually match play,” said Ong.

Teams will be allowed to field in eight players a day for two rounds, with the top six scores to count in the event sponsored by the Mareco Broadcasting Network (Crossover), Travelife, Business Mirror, Airbus, Splash Philippines, Wealth Inc. and East Gate Publication.