Filipina aces slug it out vs Koreans in Asia Pacific Cup opener

MANILA, Philippines – Princess Superal and Dottie Ardina underscored the importance of consistency as they launch their individual and team campaigns in separate flights at the start of the Simone Asia Pacific Cup Thursday, December 21, at the Pondok Indah Golf Course in Jakarta, Indonesia.

“Kailangan very consistent sa course na to,” said Superal after Wednesday’s pro-am tournament ushering in the $750,000 championship which she ruled (individual) for her first international pro victory last year.

“Kailangan talaga fairways and greens palagi. Importante din and putting,” added the 26-year-old shotmaker, also the first Philippine-born player to win a USGA (US Golf Association)-event – the US Girls’ Junior Open — in 2014.

Superal, who fell short of sweeping the inaugurals after settling for runner-up with Pauline del Rosario to Koreans So Yeon Ryu and Bo Mee Lee in team play, forms a dynamic partnership with Bianca Pagdanganan, who recently reclaimed her LPGA Tour card, thus adding to the Philippines’ potential for success.

The ICTSI-backed aces tangle with Koreans Dayeon Lee and Soyoung Lee in the 8 a.m. flight on No. 1 of the par-72 layout.

Ardina, on the other hand, teams up with Daniella Uy as they collide with Shiane Ahn and Kyujung Baek, also from Korea, in the 7:15 a.m. group, also on the first hole.

“I think the key would be to play consistent. Put myself into right position out there.. Hit lots of fairways and greens and make putts,” said Ardina, who campaigns both in the Epson and LPGA Tours. “The green condition is a little rough, so hopefully I get lucky to make putts.”

“I’m well prepared for this week and so as my partner Daniella. We’ll do our best individually and as a team,” added Ardina.

Despite the absence of major champions, the Filipina bets expect a heightened level of competition with world No. 9 Atthaya Thitikul of Thailand and Japan’s Nasa Hataoka adding a touch of star power to the 56-player roster.

Superal scripted a narrative of triumph, outshining luminaries like New Zealand’s Lydia Ko, Korean Hyo Joo Kim and Hinako Shibuno of Japan, to claim the crown worth $100,000, winning by three over former US Women’s Open champion Ryu.

But she anticipates a more challenging competition with Thailand and Korea fielding an impressive lineup of players eager to dominate both the individual and team championships. The 54-hole tournament, put up by the Asia Golf Leaders Forum to advance the development of women’s golf in the Asia Pacific region, offers not only a substantial total prize of $750,000 but also carries the allure of world ranking points.

The individual competition offers a total prize purse of $550,000 while the team event stakes a total pot of $200,000.

Superal, embracing the role of a key contender, highlighted the preparation undertaken by the team, expressing excitement about learning from some of the world’s top-ranked players.

“We have our own preparation before this event, lahat din kami nakapag-practice round na together,” said Superal. “We’re very excited to play. I think this tour will help make women’s pro golf in Asia grow. We’re also grateful that we get to play with some of the top ranked players in the world since we’ll get to learn from their games.”

Like Superal, the big-hitting Pagdanganan is also making a homecoming of sort to Pondok Indah, where she won the individual bronze and helped lift the Philippines to the gold medal finish in the Asian Games in 2018.

Meanwhile, Smart is facilitating live coverage of the event through its Smart Livestream app, available for free download on the Apple App Store or Google Play. No charges or subscriptions are required to enjoy the tournament, making it accessible to a wide audience of Filipino golf fans. The app will also offer full stream and highlights via video-on-demand for those unable to catch the event live.

“Princess’s victory last year was a great moment for Philippine golf. We think there’s a good chance of another Pinay lifting the trophy this year, so we are making our coverage of this event accessible to a wide audience of Filipino golf fans,” said Jude Turcuato, the First VP/Head of Sports for PLDT and Smart.

For those unable to catch the Simone Asia Pacific Cup live, the Smart Livestream app will offer full stream and highlights via video-on-demand. 

The Thai and Korean contingents, boasting a mix of seasoned campaigners and emerging stars, are tipped to add layers of intensity and drama to the competition.

Spearheading Korea’s title bid are Minyeol Kim, Heejeong Lim, Youmin Hwang and top amateur Minsol Kim while back-stopping Thitikul in the solid Thai roster are fellow LPGA campaigners Jaravee Boonchant, Natthakritta Vongtaveelap and Chanettee Wannasaen, who won her first LPGA title as a Monday qualifier in the Portland Classic last September.

Also in the Thai fold are Busabakorn Sukapan, Phannarai Meesom-us and amateurs Suvichaya Vinijchaitham and Eila Galitsky, who dominated the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Championship in Singapore last March.

In other top groupings, Thitikul and Boonchant mix it up with Hataoka and Moeka Nishihata at 8:30 a.m. on No. 1, while Saki Baba, the 2022 US Women’s Amateur champion, and fellow Japanese Aihi Takano battle Koreans Youmin Hwang and Minbyeol Kim at 8:15 a.m.

Young Taiwanese sisters Vivian Hou and Yu Sang Hou tangle with Malaysaisn Ashley Lau and Geraldine Wong at 8:15 a.m. at the backside, while Galitsky and Vinijchaitham face off with top Koreans Minsol Kim and Hyosong Lee in a duel of top amateurs at 7:17 a.m., also on No. 10.