Unlike in the men’s battle, where a few clear favorites loom large, the title chase in the women’s side of the ICTSI The Country Club Match Play Championship shapes up to be a wide-open battle among the tour’s brightest stars — particularly the leg winners from the just-concluded Ladies Philippine Golf Tour (LPGT).

The season-ending championship, which assembles the top 16 performers from the year-long circuit, unwraps Tuesday at the demanding The Country Club layout.

 With its shifting winds, punishing length and constantly changing character from hole to hole, every swing and decision will matter.

Leading the elite field is Order of Merit winner Sarah Ababa, followed by defending champion Florence Bisera, Chanelle Avaricio, Mafy Singson, Tiffany Lee, Harmie Constantino, Chihiro Ikeda, Martina Miñoza, Gretchen Villacencio, Daniella Uy, Pamela Mariano, Kristine Fleetwood, Apple Fudolin, Seoyun Kim, Velinda Castil and Kayla Nocum.

Princess Superal, winner at Caliraya Springs, is skipping the Match Play to compete in the Japan Q-School also scheduled this week.

With her withdrawal, Nocum — who finished No. 17 in the Order of Merit — steps in and will face Ababa in the opening round of the knockout duels.

Other first-day pairings pit standout against hopeful, power against promise — Bisera versus Castil; Avaricio versus Kim; Singson versus Fudolin; Lee versus Fleetwood; Constantino versus Mariano; Ikeda versus Uy and Minoza versus Villacencio.