KUALA LUMPUR: Defending champion Ng Jing Xuen and national No. 1 Mirabel Ting are set to resume their rivalry from last year as they seek to keep the Malaysian Ladies Amateur Open (MLAO) title on home soil.
The tournament, now in its 38th edition, will be held at the Templer Park Country Club in Rawang from July 15-17.
As of now, the tournament has attracted 60 golfers from nine different countries.
With Sea Games gold medallist Jing Xuen, and Mirabel, ranked 24th on the World Amateur Golf Ranking in action, expectations are high that the coveted DYMM Tunku Ampuan Negeri Sembilan Trophy will remain in Malaysia.
Jing Xuen's victory last year was significant, marking the first time a local player had won the MLAO since Nur Durriyah Damian's triumph in 2016.
Mirabel, currently pursuing collegiate golf in the United States, was among the joint runners-up in the previous edition,
The other notable names in the local golfer contingent are Winnie Ng, Sea Games bronze medallist Foong Zi Yu, last year's joint runner-up Charlayne Chong, Andrea Chin, and Zulaikah Nurziana Nasser.
"Our Malaysian girls will be competing against a strong field of top national players from Thailand, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Indonesia, and India," said MLAO organising chairman Tunku Puteri Jawahir, who is also the president of the Malaysia Ladies Golf Association.
"We're hoping to achieve a 100-player target before the entry closes."
Jing Xuen will enter the tournament as a player to beat, having clinched her maiden professional event title last month at the Toyota Tour's Vios Cup at Templer Park Country Club.
She continued her winning streak with victories at the RPGC Junior Championship and the Kedah Amateur Open.
Mirabel, who enjoyed another stellar season in her second year in the US, will also be one to watch.
In her seven appearances for Florida State University this year, she claimed five top-10 finishes, highlighted by her victory at the Valspar Augusta Invitational in March.