In the absence of Chanelle Avaricio and amateur star Rianne Malixi, Harmie Constantino and Daniella Uy look to dominate in the ICTSI Luisita Championship in Tarlac from 9 to 11 May.
Constantino, who swept the last two LPGT legs last year, including the inaugural Match Play Invitational at Villamor, tied for third at Caliraya Springs in Laguna two weeks ago.
Uy, on the other hand, wound up joint fifth on the strength of a tournament-best 67 in the second round.
Avaricio and Malixi, the last two winners in the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour, are campaigning overseas.
A three-time winner last year, Avaricio is set to vie in the Garden City Classic of the Epson Tour.
Malixi, on the other hand, is spearheading the country’s gold medal drive in both the individual and team competitions in the Cambodia Southeast Asian Games.
But Constantino and Uy won’t be short of credible challengers in the 54-hole championship put up by ICTSI with reigning Order of Merit winner Chihiro Ikeda, Caliraya Springs leg joint third placer Florence Bisera, Sarah Ababa, Pamela Mariano, Apple Fudolin, Gretchen Villacencio, Kristine Fleetwood and Rev Alcantara all geared up for a grueling three-day battle in the heat at one of the country’s toughest courses.
Meanwhile, amateurs Laurea Duque and Eunhua Nam of Korea spice up the compact field that also includes pros Sheryl Villacensio, Lovelynn Guioguio, Lucy Landicho, Eva Miñoza and Majorie Pulumbarit.
