CYNA RODRIGUEZ (Manny Marcelo/PHOTO)

PRINCESS SUPERAL

Cyna Rodriguez vows a big fightback by the local bets as she spearheads the Filipinas’ charge against a crack foreign field in the ICTSI Wack Wack Ladies Invitational which fires off today (Tuesday, April 28) at Wack Wack’s West course in Mandaluyong City.

Humbled by the Thai juggernaut the last time out, the reigning back-to-back LPGT Order of Merit champion is raring to get back at the Thais and defend the turf after Wichanee Meechai and Walailak Satarak posted a 1-2 finish for Thailand at ICTSI Splendido in Tagaytay three weeks ago.

“I guess it’s time to make a move now and be a winner and not let that foreigners take over again,” said Rodriguez, who has dominated the first two seasons of the country’s first ladies pro tour sponsored by ICTSI but struggled to finish seventh at Splendido.

Boosting the local roster is the ICTSI-The Country Club amateur squad, led by reigning US Girls Junior champion Princess Superal with Pauline del Rosario, Mika Fortuna and Bernice Olivarez-Ilas backing up the team.

“I’m confident this week although I won’t push too much,” said Superal, who has racked up three victories abroad this early in the season. “I will use also this tournament as part of my training for the Queen Sirikit Cup next month.”

Del Rosario and Fortuna are also coming into the event oozing with confidence following their sweep of Sportexcel Junior plums in Malaysia last week, guaranteeing a strong challenge from the local bets.

Other amateurs seeing action in the event, the third leg of an eight-stage circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc., are Nikki Bruce and Koreans Lee Min Kyung and Hwang Min Jeong.

With Rodriguez and the rest all primed up for a payback, Meechai will be hard-pressed to duplicate her record 15-shot romp at Splendido although she has a slew of dependable backups, including Saraporn Chamchoi, Mookharin Ladgratok, Supakchaya Pattaranakrueang, Pennapa Pulsawath, Hathaikarn Wongwaikijphaisal, Tiranan Yoopan and Amolkan Phalajivin.

Also in the fold are Jayvie Agojo, former SEA Games gold medalist Chihiro Ikeda, Anya Tanpinco, Lovelynn Guioguio and Sarah Ababa, the best placed Filipina at joint second at Splendido.

See more details for the 2015 ICTSI Wack Wack Ladies Invitational