Crack foreign field vying in Pradera Classic

The LPGA of Taiwan (TLPGA) is sending some of its best players to take part in the $80,000 ICTSI Pradera Ladies Classic that tees off Wednesday at the sprawling Pradera Verde Golf and Country Club in Lubao, Pampanga.

Three of the top 10 in the current TLPGA Order of Merit banner the 57-player strong field from one of the region’s premier circuits, including No. 3 Chen Hsuan, who placed second in the Sampo Ladies Open last April, No. 6 Tzu Chi Liu and No. 8 Ching Huang, who actually reigned at LPGT-TLPGA Champion Tour at Midlands last year.

That will be a formidable field to conquer for the lean local contingent that will be headlined by Pauline del Rosario and Princess Superal.

Del Rosario and Superal have been the best players in the local tour and are both taking a break from their hectic international schedules for this.

Some of the leading players from Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan and Korea who have the TLPGA their base are also in the fold.

Focus will also be on Thais Thanutra Boonraksasat and Arpichaya Yubol, back-to-back winners of LPGT events at Manila Southwoods and Manila Golf last March and April, respectively.

Recent Midlands champion Chihiro Ikeda, Daniella Uy, Marvin Monsalve, Alex Etter, Pamela Mariano and Gretchen Villecencio are the other notable locals in the field.

Comebacking Ye Nah Hwang of Korea also joins the title hunt, hoping to recall the form that netted her victories at Southlinks in 2015 and at Mt. Malarayat in 2017.