Makati—The 59th Philippine Ladies Open Presented by Monde Nissin tees off today at the posh Manila Golf Club with the chase for the national crown expected to be a wide-open race after top contender Mafy Singson pulled out due to an illness.

Singson, a national team mainstay, is suffering from severe flu. Clad with a jacket, she tried to play on Sunday at Manila Southwoods but abruptly quit after just hitting six to eight balls on the fairway.\

With this development, it is the perfect time for national pool member Laurea Duque and junior golfers like Alethea Gaccion, Reese Allyson Ng, Grace Quintanilla, Lia Duque and Lia Gabrielle Rosca to shine.
Also tipped to contend are Alessandra Luciano, Kiera Que, Anya Cedo, Kiara Montebon, Anna Kei Fernandez, Tashi Balangauan, Marianna Reyes, Precious Zaragosa and Levonne Talion and Korean Lee Ji-won.

The PLO is an important event of the Women’s Golf Association of the Philippines (WGAP) because this is where it will get the players who will represent the country in the Queen Sirikit Cup in New Zealand next month.

Gold sponsors are Philippine Sports Commission, The Turf Company and Dunkin Donuts. Silver sponsors are Diamond Auto, Filinvest, Filhome Builders, SPES Construction, Tesla Ecomax and Unioil. Bronze sponsors include M2, Total Information Management, Let’s Golf Pare and Ayala Land Premier while Anessa and Coca Cola Beverages Philippines are backers.