Lady golfers chase ICTSI berths

MANILA, Philippines — A qualifying tournament for the 2014 ICTSI ladies circuit gets off the ground starting Wednesday next week at the relatively calm Aoki course of Eagle Ridge in Cavite.

The organizers have set a modest target for the aspirants—an average score of 80 or 240 for 54 holes—to make the tour proper, which will have eight legs this year compared to the five in its inaugural season last year.

Orchard hosts the first leg at the Players’ course also in Cavite on April 16 to 18 with Wack Wack taking its turn the following month and Tagaytay Highlands on July 24 to 26.

The Mt. Malarayat leg will be on Aug. 13 to 15; the Riviera Ladies on Sept. 10 to 12; the Calatagan stop will be on Sept. 17 to 19 before the Valley Golf and Manila Southwoods stops on Oct. 14 to 16, and Nov. 5 to 7, respectively.

Foreigners are also welcome and several Korean expats have entered their names, seeking to make the local tour the first stop in their professional careers.

Dottie Ardina and Cyna Rodriguez won two legs each last year, with amateur hotshot Princess Superal winning the last, held at picturesque Camp John Hay in Baguio.

Superal held form and later won a gold medal in the Southeast Asian Games in Myanmar. Ardina is expected to play some of the legs this season if her international schedule would permit.