THE Ladies Philippine Golf Tour (LPGT) regulars are again stepping on familiar battlegrounds and facing equally familiar adversaries as they chase a long-awaited breakthrough victory in the Taiwan Ladies Professional Golf Association (TLPGA) Tour.
Thailand standouts PK Kongkraphan and Cholcheva Wongras, Taiwan’s Ching Huang, Hsin Lee and Yu Ju Chen, Japan’s Yuna Arakawa and Singapore’s Amanda Tan headline the international field that will stand in the way of the Filipina contenders.
Kongkraphan edged Harmie Constantino and three others at the Luisita Ladies International last year, while Huang has proven her mettle with a victory at Tagaytay Midlands and Lee, Chen, Arakawa and Tan have been long-running fixtures in the Party Golfers Ladies Open.
For the Filipinas, these names are anything but new and that familiarity fuels belief that this could finally be their year.
The NT$5 million Party Golfers Ladies Open unwraps Wednesday at the Lily Golf and Country Club in Hsinchu with the Philippine contingent exuding confidence after a grueling but rewarding LPGT season.
Chanelle Avaricio, Princess Superal, Mafy Singson and Florence Bisera-all LPGT leg champions this year-lead the charge.
Bisera is particularly eager as she rides momentum from her maiden international win in Thailand last September.
After becoming the inaugural winner of the Asia Pacific Up in 2022, the multi-titled Superal has been on a roller-coaster run-winning some events while struggling in others-as consistency continues to elude her after she captured the Caliraya Springs leg but faltered in a couple of title bids.
But perhaps no one has more unfinished business in Taiwan than Daniella Uy.
Uy’s joint fourth-place finish in 2019 remains the best showing by an LPGT player in the event, falling just three strokes short of local heroine Yu Ling Hsieh.
Still winless this LPGT season, the TLPGA campaigner hopes that her experience on this course-and her long-running encounters with many of the same rivals-will finally translate into a triumphant week.
Also joining the strong LPGT cast are Lois Kaye Go, Martina Miñoza, Velinda Castil, Gretchen Villacencio, Annika Cedo, Marvi Monsalve and Rev Alcantara.
Rounding out the roster are Kristine Fleetwood, Monica Mandario, Marjorie Pulumbarit, Jiwon Lee, Eunhua Nam and Seo Yun Kim.