Korean ace joins ICTSI Ladies Open

MANILA, Philippines—Lee Jeong-Hwa, who bested the country’s finest as well as several Thai aces to become the first Korean to win the Philippine Ladies Open crown in 2012, will spice up the cast in the $75,000 ICTSI Ladies Open which gets going on March 11 at Southlink Golf Club in Las Piñas.

The entry of the crack player from Busan further boosts the already-formidable roster headed by the Taiwanese, Thais, Malaysians and Japanese in the chase for the top $15,000 purse of the 54-hole tournament serving as the fourth leg of this year’s Taiwan LPGA.

The practice round is set on Monday with the players pairing up in the pro-am on Tuesday with officials and guests of the tournament’s chief backers, including presentor Champion Infinity and Nike, Sharp and Custom Clubmakers.

Focus will also be on American Tiffany Tavee, who is raring to atone for her playoff defeat to Thai Nontaya Srisawang in the Taiwan LPGA’s third leg, the Grand Royal Open, last month.

Several Thais are also tipped to contend for the ICTSI title along with local bets, including Symetra Tour campaigners Dottie Ardina and Mia Piccio, as well as Cyna Rodriguez, Jayvie Agojo and Chihiro Ikeda.