2016 ICTSI Philippines Ladies Masters today Dec.21 at Albang Country Club, Kanphanitnan MUANGKHUMSAKUL from Thailand with outstanding performance lead the game by 3-under-par 69. Kuo Ai-Chen from Taiwan, Chihiro Ikeda from Philippines and Saraporn CHAMCHOI from Thailand shared the second by 70, one stroke behind the leader.

HSIEH Yu-Ling from Taiwan made 71, shared the fifth place with Chorphaka JAENGKIT and Chatprapa SIRIPRAKOB from Tailand, Lee Jeong-Hwa from Korea.

Amateurs HOU Yu-Sang from Taiwan and Pualine DEL ROSARTO from Philippines both made 73, best score among amateurs. Total 8 players tied 11th by 73 stroke, including HUANG Ching and CHEN Yu-Ju from Taiwan, Princess Mary SUPERAL and Dottie Ardina from Philippines.

Kanphanitnan, the winner of Hitachi Ladies Classic this January, having ups and downs today with 1 eagle, 7 birdies, 1 bogey and 1 double bogey. The eagle was on hole 7 by tremendous second shot 219 yards to the green, left a 7-foot put to eagle. Even so, she made a double bogey by three-putt on hole 6. “My putts weren’t so well today, overall were good though” she said.

She started from hole 10, 34-35 to finish, straight birdies from hole 16 to 18. She hopes fewer mistakes happen in the next two rounds.

KUO Ai-Chen as runner-up was very satisfied with her woods and short games, she made 5 birdies, 1 bogey and 1 double bogey today. “My short games were all played as my settings, especially my putts” she said, total 25 putts which is remarkable. She achieved 18-foot birdie putt on hole 3, 15-foot on hole 5 and 13-foot on hole 11 for birdie putts, not to mentioned the most splendid 40-foot birdie putt on hole 12. Bad luck on hole 10 cost her 4 strokes to made on green since she was stuck in the woods, end up as double bogey.

KUO said she has some physical training this year, which strengthen her swings more stable. During the training, her coach will use a lot of methods motivate KUO to achieve her goal.

She also mentioned the course weren’t long but still need strategy, as well as accuracy since it’s not easy for balls to stop on the green; there’s more challenge when the back nine holes became windy.

HSIEH Yu-Ling place fifth by stable swings, 2 birdies and 1 bogey; though troubled by trees on hole 2, she made low grounder by 8 iron from 117 yards and putt in the 9-foot birdie. On hole 18, she shot 215 yards by 3-wood to edge and made birdie by skilled short games. Short on hole 5 to green and left 9-foot to hole after her second shot, end up 2 putts for bogey

“My long irons aren’t quite well today, but short games are great!” she said, total 27 putts, 36-35 as result.

HSIEH found the course need strategy while locating the ball, since the greens are hard and unstoppable. Hole 18 birdie was most satisfied one to her, “I know there’s big chance to made birdie, even so my third shot wasn’t good and left downhill 7-foot to hole. In the end, I followed my pace and got the birdie as expected.” She said.

Second round still separated in two sessions, tee-off from 1st and 10th tee; in morning session, first group tee-off at 07:00am and last group 08:10am, afternoon session first group tee-off at 10:50am and last group 12:00pm. The cut-off line set at 50 players and ties after two rounds results.

Total prize money USD 80,000; USD 17,000 for winner and USD 8500 for runner-up. The tournament will play over three rounds (54 holes). Above event co-sanctioned by TLPGA and LPGT (Ladies Philippine Golf Tour), it is the third co-sanctioned event of the year and the final tournament of TLPGA 2016 season. This is also the 10th and final tournament of LPGT 2016 season.

92 players and 16 amateurs from Canada, England, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, USA and Taiwan.

ICTSI (International Container Terminal Services, Inc.) is the title sponsor of LPGT, since 2013 sponsored 6 tournaments, 2014 and 2015 with 8 tournaments respectively, finally adds to 10 tournaments in 2016.