China LPGA-bound Filipinas aim high at PH Ladies Masters

Four stalwarts of the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour, fresh from earning cards on the lucrative China LPGA Tour, are set to spearhead the country’s bid in the ICTSI Philippine Masters, which reels off on Feb. 4 at Summit Point Golf and Country Club in Lipa City, Batangas.

Florence Bisera bannered the Filipina charge in the recently concluded four-round China LPGA qualifier, finishing as the top local bet at solo eighth. The multi-titled LPGT standout was very much in contention for low medal honors before stumbling with a closing 77, but her overall showing was enough to fuel optimism as she embarks on her maiden season on the China circuit.

Joining Bisera as new CLPGA card holders are Chanelle Avaricio, who tied for ninth, and Daniella Uy, who finished joint 22nd with former China Tour campaigner Mafy Singson – a solid haul for Philippine women’s golf against a deep, battle-tested international field.

The four, however, are skipping the China LPGA Tour’s pre-season Orient Ningbo Challenge slated this week in Zhejiang, choosing instead to zero in on the PH Ladies Masters – a strategic move underscoring their determination to shine on home soil.

The China LPGA Tour, which features at least 18 tournaments including four co-sanctioned LPGA events, officially launches its new season in March. But before turning their focus overseas, Bisera and her fellow LPGT mainstays are fully intent on making a bold statement against a formidable international cast at the PH Ladies Masters.

Their mission is clear: contend – and contend seriously – for the crown.

Last year, the best finish by a Filipina in the PH Ladies Masters was a joint fourth, courtesy of Epson Tour campaigner Pauline del Rosario, when the tournament was staged at The Country Club. This time around, with a different course setup at Summit Point and the invaluable experience gained from international competition, the Filipinas believe they are better equipped – mentally, technically and competitively – to challenge the region’s elite.

Facing top players from Taiwan, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand in the $200,000 championship, the locals draw confidence from their familiarity with conditions, renewed self-belief and a growing sense that they belong on the same stage as Asia’s best.

Organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc., the PH Ladies Masters also doubles as the kickoff leg of the 2025 Taiwan LPGA season, with 20 of the circuit’s leading players expected to compete. The event further cements the Philippines’ standing as a preferred destination for elite women’s golf, offering world-class venues where players come to sharpen their skills, gain exposure and vie for honors on a broader Asian stage.

For the Filipinas, however, the tournament is a chance to translate hard-earned international experience into confidence, competitiveness and, ultimately, contention. With resolve sharpened and readiness reinforced, Bisera and company are eager to assert themselves, not just as hosts, but as legitimate threats for the title.