Fourteen amateurs, headed by The Country Club bets Mikha Fortuna and Sofia Chabon, seek to sneak in and spoil the big guns’ party in the ICTSI Mount Malarayat Ladies Classic unfolding tomorrow (Tuesday, May 15) at the Mts. Lobo-Malipunyo nines in Lipa City, Batangas.

Kristine Torralba, Chanelle Avaricio, Junia Gabasa, Sam Bruce, Yana Casas, Mafy Singson and Laia Barro are also in the fold, along with Koreans Hyun Ji Rho, Kim Hui Won and Jang Yunji, Japanese Kelly Marutani and Canadian Sharon Park are also in the fold, all going all-out to duplicate Yuka Saso’s title romp in the kickoff leg of this year’s Ladies Philippine Golf Tour at Ayala Greenfield.

But these youngsters will need to double their effort to foil the highly anticipated title clash between a crack Thai delegation and the cream of the country’s pro crop in the P1.25 million event sponsored by ICTSI and organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

For one, the Thais are out to make it back-to-back after Supakchaya Pattaranakrueang nosed out three-time Order of Merit winner Cyna Rodriguez on the third playoff hole at Luisita last month.

The country’s perennial regional rivals are actually coming into the 54-hole championship in full force with Sarinee Thitiratanakorn, Onkanok Soisuwan and Tirapan Yoopan bannering a 13-player strong cast out to deliver their fourth win in the season.

Also joining the hunt are Jaruporn P Na Ayuttaya, Piyathida Sangkagaro, Kanokwan Yospark, Goonlacha Paiboonpong, Paphada Wongwaikihphaisal, Pattraporn Kraturuk, Pimpadsron Sangkagaro, Pannapa Polnamin and Chommapat Ponthanarak.

Amolkan Phalajivin is also eyeing a second LPGT crown although the 2014 Splendido leg winner has slowed down the last couple of years trying to put it all together again.

But expect the locals to stop the Thais’ charge, particularly Rodriguez, who is going flat out to redeem herself from that playoff setback, along with LPGT Riviera leg champion Chihiro Ikeda.

Other locals seeing action are Alex Etter, Sarah Ababa, Lucy Landicho, Gretchen Villacencio, Apple Fudolin, Marvi Monsalve, Anya Tanpinco and Eva Miñoza while American Lisa Kang and Korean Choeun Bang complete the cast in the seventh leg of the circuit backed by Custom Clubmakers, BDO, Meralco, Sharp, KZGm PLDT, Champion, Summit Mineral Water and K&G Golf.