TARLAC – The ICTSI Luisita Ladies International 2024 blasts off on Tuesday as stalwarts from the LPGA of Taiwan (TLPGA), the Thai LPGA, and homegrown talents fight for honors at the Luisita Golf and Country Club.
Good decision-making will play a pivotal role in navigating the challenges of the 6,362-yard Robert Trent Jones, Sr.-designed course renowned for its risk-and-reward layout. The event offers a $100,000 pot.
Princess eyes redemption
For PK Kongkraphan, this tournament is a chance to complete an unfinished business after falling short in last year’s Anvaya Cove Ladies International.
Meanwhile, Princess Superal is determined to bounce back from a final round slip at Caliraya Springs. She is also using the event as preparation for her coming campaign on the Japan Step Up Tour.
The former US Girls’ Junior titlist hopes to capitalize on her familiarity of the layout. She is drawn with Yu-Ju Chen of Taiwan and Thai Chonlada Chayanun at 8 a.m. on No. 1.
“We’re more familiar with Luisita, so we’ll see how it goes,” said Superal, whose last triumph dates back to 2022 in the Asia Pacific Cup in Indonesia where she beat several major champions on the LPGA Tour.
Thai is top favorite
Meanwhile, top favorite Kongkraphan, 32, whose stellar record includes victories in the Hangzhou Asian Games last year and 23 professional titles, enters the competition with confidence.
Despite the unfamiliarity of the course, Kongkraphan is optimistic, drawing parallels to her recent experience in Thailand. She skipped the pro-am tournament to fine-tune her game.
“This is a new course for me, but the conditions are similar back home. So I think, I can have a good score here,” said Kongkraphan, who drew compatriot Alisara Wedchakama and Korean Minyeong Kim at 8:55 a.m. on No. 10. “Luisita is a little bit shorter, so there’s a big chance to playing well this week.”
While she leads the charge, a stellar lineup of TLPGA and Thai players, including Chen, Jo Hua Hung and former LPGT leg winners Wannasiri Sirisampant and Chayanun, are poised to make their mark.
Focus will also be on new faces Sarina Schmidt of Germany, India’s Hitaashee Bakshi and Sneha Singh, while Koreans Seoyun Kim, Nam Eunhua and Kim are likewise out to make an early impact for the needed confidence and momentum.
But the local talents are all primed for battle, led by Harmie Constantino, who is coming off back-to-back triumphs at Rancho Palos Verdes and Caliraya Springs. She also reigned here last year, edging Daniella Uy in sudden death to clinch the LPGT Luisita Championship.
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