Team Philippines is looking to make history as it guns for its maiden victory in the 43rd Queen Sirikit Cup, or the Amateur Ladies-Asia Pacific Invitational Golf Team Championship, which unfolds on Tuesday at the Manila Southwoods Golf and Country Club (Masters) in Carmona, Cavite.
Leading the way for the host squad are Lois Kaye Go, Mafy Singson and Rianne Malixi, who will face a daunting task against a formidable field from China, Korea, Chinese Taipei, New Zealand, India, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand and defending champion Japan.
Japan is the heavy favorite to repeat as Mizuki Hashimoto and Miku Ueta, holdovers from last year’s winning squad, are confirmed to play alongside new recruit Yuna Araki. Thailand might spring a surprise too with its two leading amateurs Thitikarn Thapsit and Achiraya Sriwong in the roster.
The road to success, though, would not be easy for everyone as they will play the Masters, the signature layout designed by golf great Jack Nicklaus, which has been proven to challenge even the best amateurs and professionals alike in the past.
The four-day tournament is organized by the Women’s Golf Association of the Philippines, in partnership with R&A, Monde Nissin, Asia Pacific Golf Confederation, National Golf Association of the Philippines and Manila Southwoods through chairman Robert John Sobrepeña.
The Queen Sirikit Cup has been important stepping stone to international fame for past champions like Karrie Webb and Minjee Lee of Australia, Lydia Ko of New Zealand, Feng Shanshan of China, Ai Miyazato of Japan, Pak Se-ri and Shin Ji-yae of Korea and Tseng Ya-Ni of Chinese Taipei.