Yupaporn Kawinpakorn seeks to cap a sterling 2018 campaign on the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour as she shoots for a third victory in the ICTSI Pradera Verde Ladies Classic beginning tomorrow, Tuesday, Dec. 4 in Lubao, Pampanga.
Kawinpakorn, who won the Philippine Ladies Amateur Open crown at The Country Club in 2007, is back as spearhead of a big 19-player Thai delegation raring to slug it out with the country’s best players in the P1 million event put up by ICTSI.
The veteran campaigner posted a pair of three-stroke victories at the Beverly Place and Summit Point stops of this year’s LPGT, anchoring an imposing six-victory romp by the country’s perennial regional rivals in the recently concluded 11-stage 2018 LPGT season.
But she and the rest of the Thais will be in for a tough challenge with LPGA Tour-bound Dottie Ardina anchoring the locals’ bid in what promises to be a wild, fierce battle for top honors right from the start of the 54-hole event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. at the relative flat but challenging layout.
Ardina, gearing up for the world’s premier ladies circuit, is thrilled over playing again on the home front, eager to flaunt the form that netted her the overall No. 2 spot from a number of runner-up finishes in the Symetra Tour for an outright LPGA Tour berth.
She will be backstopped by former three-time LPGT OOM winner Cyna Rodriguez, former LPGT leg winner Chihiro Ikeda, Daniella Uy, Marvi Monsalve, Alex Etter and Gretchen Villacencio and newly crowned LPGT OOM champion Princess Superal, who is also eyeing a third win this year after back-to-back feats at Riviera and Midlands.
But Kawinpakorn remains confident of adding another championship to her growing trophy room with Onkanok Soisuwan and Wannasiri Sirirampant also hopeful of scoring a second win on the country’s local pro circuit, backed by Custom Clubmakers, BDO, Meralco, Sharp, KZG, PLDT, Champion, Summit Mineral Water and K&G Golf.
The other Thais competing are Alisara Wedchakama, Arpichaya Yubol, Chakansim Khamborn, Chatprapa Siriprakob, Chommapat Pongthanarak, Chonlada Chayanun, Chouvarest Chouskittisopon, Dolnapa Phudthipinij, Jaruporn P Na Ayutthaya, Kanokwan Yospak, Omnicha Konsunthea, Pattaporn Kraturuk, Pimpadsorn Sangkagaro, Preenaphan Poomklay, Trichat Cheenglab and Waralee Athcarerk.
The field also includes nine amateurs, led by club bet Annyka Cayabyab, Junia Gabasa, Laurea Duque and Team The Country Club’s Eagle Ace Superal, Samantha Dizon, Mafy Singson and Nicole Abelar, all seeking to prove their worth and spoil the big guns’ title drives in the event.