Wide-open battle looms in ICTSI PH Ladies Masters

LIPA CITY, Batangas — A fast start will be crucial as the ICTSI Philippine Ladies Masters tees off Wednesday, Feb. 4, setting up a wide-open battle among top Taiwanese contenders, a deep Thai and Korean cast, seasoned international campaigners, and a determined Filipino field eager to defend home turf.

The USD 200,000, 54-hole championship, with a winner’s purse of USD 30,000, serves as the opening leg of the Taiwan LPGA Tour and is being played at Summit Point Golf and Country Club, a course known for shifting winds, demanding greens, and its ability to punish mistakes.

With only three rounds to decide the 123-player field, contenders are expected to emerge early, leaving little margin for those who stumble out of the gate.

Leading the early favorites is Taiwan’s Min Lee, No. 2 in the Taiwan LPGA Order of Merit and a former LPGA Tour campaigner.

Lee anchors a strong Taiwanese lineup that includes No. 4 Chih-Min Chen, fifth-ranked Ching Huang, a former Ladies Philippine Golf Tour Midlands winner, and No. 7 Han-Hsuan Yu, all seeking to break through after near-misses in recent LPGT- and TLPGA-sanctioned events.

Still, the course offers no guarantees, with Summit Point changing character by the hour as elevation shifts and slick greens turn solid shots into difficult recoveries.

“The course looks great and I really like the layout,” Lee said, citing the wind and unfamiliar grass as key challenges.

“It’s quite windy here, and the type of grass is something we don’t see very often, so it takes a bit of time to adjust the shots and calculations,” she said.

Playing in the Philippines for the first time, Lee said she is eager to make a strong impression.

“I’m very excited about this week’s tournament,” she said.

The Thai challenge is again deep, led by Nook Sukapan, who arrives with unfinished business after missing last year’s title by one stroke to Korea’s Kim Kayoung.

“It was a great experience,” Sukapan said after a practice round.

“The course is challenging, especially the greens, and it really tests your focus,” she said.

“I enjoyed playing Summit Point, and I feel I’m ready this time,” she added.

Backing Sukapan is a strong Thai cast composed of Kan Bunnabodee, Chonlada Chayanun, Pakin Kawinpakorn, Supamas Sangchan, Sherman Santiwiwattahanaphong, Ornnicha Konsunthea, and Pimnipa Panthong.

Sukapan acknowledged the home-course advantage of local players while welcoming the challenge.

“The LPGT players are very talented and competitive,” she said.

“Playing with them motivates me to keep improving my game,” she added.

The Korean contingent, even without Kayoung in the field, remains a proven force, long regarded as a pipeline of champions on Asian tours and the LPGA Tour.

The Filipinas, however, are among the most motivated competitors in the field.

Epson Tour campaigner Pauline del Rosario, joint fourth in last year’s event, said competing on home soil provides added inspiration.

“Competing at home gives me extra motivation and pride,” del Rosario said.

“The support from the fans inspires me to stay focused and play with confidence while representing the country the best way I can,” she added.

Del Rosario said she also hopes her presence will inspire younger players.

“I hope this inspires more young girls to pursue golf and helps bring greater attention and support to women’s golf in the country,” she said.

Princess Superal opens her season with quiet confidence and bigger ambitions after her breakthrough victory at the inaugural Asia Pacific Cup in Jakarta in 2022.

“This week has been about steady preparation and staying focused on the basics,” Superal said.

“I feel calm and positive, but I also understand how strong the competition is,” she added.

Also tipped to contend are Florence Bisera, coming off a joint sixth finish at last week’s Indonesia Open, China LPGA Tour-bound Chanelle Avaricio, Mafy Singson, Daniella Uy, and Epson Tour regulars Sam Bruce, Tomi Arejola, Sarah Ababa, Harmie Constantino, Marvi Monsalve, and Martina Miñoza.

With no clear favorite and a course that rewards patience while punishing lapses, the tournament is expected to deliver a tightly contested and unpredictable finish.

At Summit Point, pedigree may set expectations, but execution is expected to decide everything.