US-bound Agojo ready for RP Ladies Open

On the wait mode for a scholarship at Pepperdine University, Jayvie Agojo will have the next six months to prepare for college life in the United States. The past two months, however, she’s been pounding the fairways and killing time at the driving range for one big mission coming — the Philippine Ladies Open golf championship.

For Agojo, it’s going to be one tough competition with the expected arrival of national players from the all over the Southeast Asia. And while she’s bracing for the worst, Agojo is also hoping for the best.

"I’ve never hit so many balls a day in my life and it’s been that way for the last two months. It’s the only way to reach the level I want not just for the NCAA but also for the Philippine Open," said the 18-year-old Agojo who came close to winning the crown two years ago but lost to the now-professional Heidi Chua.

"I know there will be a lot of good players out of there who would play to win and having trained hard enough, I’m really looking forward to the competition," said Agojo.

Agojo has been making big strides the past two months, placing 12th overall in the Puerto Rico world amateurs for an impressive maiden stint with the national team. She had also topped the Manila Ladies Amateur at Wack Wack and qualified for the Samsung Amateur finals after a spectacular comeback at the Cebu Country Club.

Agojo, who will not join Pepperdine until August this year, will be joining a very young field that includes Frances Bondad, an American-Australian whose parents were born in the Philippines. Bondad arrived two days ago and has also started her own preparations.

Also among the foreign challengers are two teeners who are now in the pool of the Thailand national team, five low-handicappers also among the best in Malaysia at the moment and two aces from Hong Kong. Singapore is also sending its top bets to the 54-hole event organized by the Women’s Golf Association of the Philippines which has the First Gentleman Foundation and Herma Group as major sponsors.

Providing support are Pacific Online, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor), Park Lane Jewellers, PacSports, Bank of Commerce, Inquirer Golf, Dunkin Donuts, Mega Magazine, Callaway, All Transport Network, Crucible Gallery and Key Stone Lamps.

The field will be classified according to their scores after the first day with the top 30 per cent making up the championship. The rest will play for the Class A and Class B titles. Interested parties may call 0917-5295324 for details or email wgap71@hotmail.com