Kawinpakorn marked player as Summit Point event unfolds

LIPA City, Batangas, Philippines — Notwithstanding her missed cut stint in the LPGA of Taiwan circuit last week, Thai Yupaporn Kawinpakorn sets out for The Women’s Championship at Summit Point as the marked player when the P750,000 event is fired off today here.

For one, the veteran campaigner has vowed to better her winning 10-under total last year as she takes crack at a souped-up roster made up of fellow Thai campaigners, a couple of Korean aces and a slew of local bets in the 54-hole championship on a course that boasts of18 of the world’s renowned golf holes.

“I expect to score at least four-under each day but I need to hit more greens to do it,” said the former Philippine Amateur Open winner at The Country Club, who anchored the Thais’ six-title haul in last year’s edition of the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour with two victories. “But for sure, I will give my best to defend my crown.”

The rest of the compact field have also vowed to dish out their best, guaranteeing a spirited battle for top honors in the heat and wind in the next three days of the championship organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

Kawinpakorn, who held off Asian Games team gold medalist Lois Kaye Go and won by three in a big follow-up to her title romp at Beverly Place last year, hardly recovered from an 82 start with a 76 and failed to advance in the CTBC Ladies Open in Taiwan last week.