Yuka Saso. FACEBOOK PHOTO
Team Philippines hopes to bounce back strong with a team made up of crack Junior World veteran campaigners Yuka Saso and Harmie Constantino in the Pradera Verde Ladies Challenge set Jan. 15 to 17 in Lubao, Pampanga.
Saso, the country’s finest amateur, and Constantino backstop the young Team Philippines side that will clash with its counterparts from Southeast Asia in the Ryder Cup-style event which the foreigners dominated last year, 19.5 points to 10.5.
Mike Fortuna, Bernice Olivarez and Sofia Chabon, also seasoned in international events, are likewise suiting up for Team PH together with Laurea Duque, Nicole Abelar, Lyla Nocum, Tomi Arejola and Annyka Cayabyab, who all played for Pradera when it ran roughshod over the PAL Ladies Interclub field in Cebu two months ago.
“This should guarantee three days of fierce action,” said Archen Cayabyab, who helped put up this event last year to develop amateur golf in the country.
Team SEA, optimistic of a title repeat, will bring in coteam skippers Phunampa Pornperan and Jantson Kan. —MUSONG R. CASTILLO