Lee eyes repeat ICTSI ladies’ win

LEE Jeong-hwa shoots for a second straight win in the ICTSI Champion Tour when the $75,000 Manila Southwoods leg unfolds this Wednesday at the Legends layout in Cavite.

After fending off basically the same field in Splendido last Friday, the well-built South Korean sets out as the prohibitive favorite in the 54-hole event over the well-manicured, bunker-laden layout she calls home.

“I’m confident with my game,” Lee, a Southwoods member, said before a practice round yesterday. “It will all boil down to putting, so course familiarity will definitely help.”

Runner-up Fumika Kawagishi of Japan will try to bounce back from a sorry loss where she finished second by a shot after failing to keep in pace with Lee’s hot finish.

Dottie Ardina will carry the fight for the local bets in the absence of Cyna Rodriguez and amateur ace Princess Superal, with the wily veteran shooting to improve on an 11th place finish last week.

Mia Piccio, who like Ardina is also trying to make it to the US LPGA, should also be a strong contender in the tournament backed by Adidas, Custom Clubmakers, KZG, TaylorMade, Champion, Summit Water, Pacsports, Sharp and Rustan’s. Musong R. Castillo