Action heats up as the 60th Philippine Ladies Open kicks off at the Valley Golf and Country Club in Antipolo City on Tuesday.

National players Alethea Gaccion, Grace Quintanilla, Reese Ng and Anya Cedo lead the cast that includes Korean young sensation Yunju An, who looms as one of the favorites by virtue of her impressive victory against the country’s top pros in the LPGT Forest Hills Classic last September.

Grace Quintanilla won the revival of the event last year at the Manila Golf Club.

In 2020, Abby Arevalo routed then 12-year-old Rianne Malixi by nine shots at the Manila Golf Club.

Arevalo has since turned pro while Malixi, now 17, is the reigning US Women’s Amateur and US Girls’ champion.

Malixi is not taking part in the event to focus on her historic stint in the Philippine Open slated from 23 to 26 January at the Manila Southwoods Golf and Country Club in Carmona, Cavite. The Covid-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the event in 2021.

Other prominent names in the field are junior standouts Nicole Gan, twins Mona and Lisa Sarines and Lia Duque.