PH vs Team SEA in ‘Ryder Cup’ duel

Jennifer Rosales: Team captain

A crack Philippine squad slugs it out with some of the best in Asia when the first-ever Pradera Ladies Golf Challenge—a Ryder Cup-style event among amateurs—tees off Jan. 15 at Pradera Verde, the new layout in Lubao, Pampanga.

The seasoned Pauline del Rosario and young Annyka Cayabyab headline the 10-man Philippine side that will also include Mikha Fortuna, Sofia Chabon, Bernice Ilas and Abby Arevalo, another member of the rock-solid The Country Club team.

Mika Arroyo, Nicole Abelar, Missy Legaspi and the up-and-coming Tomi Arejola round out the home squad that will battle a Southeast Asian selection made up of players from Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.

Pradera has been in operation for more than a year now and is one tough nut to crack when the winds blow. Its fairways and greens are sizable, but being a young course, the trees basically don’t come into play.

Chona dela Paz and the US LPGA veteran Jennifer Rosales are the captains of Team Pradera.

Thai teen star Attaya Thitikul spearheads Team SEA, which includes fellow Thais Napabhach Boon-in, Tunrada Piddon, Onkanok Soisuwan and Kan Bunnabodee, Malaysians Qistina Balqis, Geraldine Wong, Natasha Oon and Winnie Ng and Michela Tjan of Indonesia with Dato Raby Abbas and Phunumpa Pornperan as team captains.

Five pairs will clash in the first two days with two sets of matches lined up, including foursomes in the morning and best ball in afternoon play. Each side will field in five teams. The singles will be played on Jan. 17. The first team to score 15.5 points wins the duel.