LPGT stars face elite Kenda Tire Cup field
TAICHUNG, Taiwan — The Ladies Philippine Golf Tour’s leading players face another stern international test as they take on a deep Taiwan LPGA Tour field in the Kenda Tire Cup beginning Wednesday, Sept. 23, at Taichung International Country Club.
Seven of the top 10 players in the current TLPGA Order of Merit headline the TWD 4 million championship, underscoring the strength of the field in the 54-hole event co-sanctioned by the LPGT and TLPGA.
The tournament marks another chapter in the two tours’ continuing partnership aimed at strengthening women’s golf in the region and giving players from both circuits more opportunities to compete at a higher level.
The Kenda Tire Cup will be co-sanctioned by the LPGT and TLPGA for the first time after several seasons of collaboration through the Party Golfers Ladies Open.
Yvon Bisera spearheads the LPGT contingent, which features a mix of experienced campaigners and emerging players looking to make an impact against some of the region’s established winners.
The Filipinas, however, will have to adjust to an unfamiliar venue and one of the strongest fields they have encountered in the Taiwan series.
Taichung course tests strategy, adaptability
Taichung International Country Club, located near the Dakang Walking Trails, features rolling and undulating fairways set amid secluded valleys, tree-lined corridors, and views of the surrounding mountains.
The East nine will serve as the outward nine and the Central nine as the inward nine, putting a premium on course management and adaptability.
With none of the LPGT players having competed on the layout before, Monday’s official practice round and Tuesday’s pro-am will provide valuable opportunities to study the course and assess its playing conditions.
Top TLPGA players
The challenge is heightened by the presence of seven players ranked inside the TLPGA’s current top 10.
No. 3 Min Jou Chen leads the group, followed by Han Hsuan Yu, Ching Huang, Hsin Lee, Cheng Hsuan Shih, Jessica Peng, and Ya Chun Chang.
Several recent winners are also in the field, adding further depth to the championship.
Thailand’s Nook Sukapan enters in strong form after winning last week’s Straits Cup Ladies Classic.
Japan’s Harumi Yoshikuwa captured the YTS and Suncity Futures events in August.
Han Hsuan Yu also brings winning form after topping the Taiwan Prosperity Ladies Open in June.
Thailand’s Sherman Santiwiwatthanaphong, who dominated the CTBC Ladies Open in May, is also among the notable winners in the lineup.
Cheng Hsuan Shih, champion of the KGI Bank TLPGA Futures, adds another proven winner to the field.
Japan’s Yuria Sonoda, winner of the Nan-Tou Golf and Country Club Futures in April, will also compete.
PHL contingent brings experience, youth
The visiting LPGT players are expected to embrace the challenge against the talent-packed international field.
Princess Superal, Marvi Monsalve, Sarah Ababa, Harmie Constantino, Kayla Nocum, Lois Kaye Go, Mafy Singson, Chihiro Ikeda, Velinda Castil, Kristine Fleetwood, and Rev Alcantara are all in the mix.
The group brings a blend of experience, competitive form, and international exposure to the Philippine campaign.
Jiwon Lee, Seo Yun Kim, Monica Mandario, Gretchen Villacencio, and Eunhua Nam complete the LPGT professional contingent.
ICTSI-backed amateurs Lisa Sarines, Mona Sarines, and Isabella Taganas will also see action in the championship.
Filipinas chase breakthrough
The Philippines has yet to win an LPGT–TLPGA co-sanctioned event since 2018.
Pauline del Rosario, however, won the TLPGA and Royal Open in 2017, becoming the first Filipina to win on one of the region’s premier women’s golf circuits.
Daniella Uy’s fourth-place finish in 2019 remains the best performance by a visiting Filipina during the joint tour.
That history provides added motivation for the LPGT players as they take on a field packed with proven winners and highly ranked TLPGA contenders.
For Bisera and the rest of the Philippine contingent, the Kenda Tire Cup offers another opportunity to test their games internationally and make a stronger push against Taiwan’s best players.
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