Agojo, Ababa cop NZ foursomes crown

MANILA, Philippines - Jayvie Agojo and Sarah Ababa pooled a 153 as Team Philippines-ICTSI ruled the 2011 New Zealand Foursomes Championship for the second straight year at the Russley Golf Course in Christchurch, New Zealand last Tuesday.

Agojo, the former Phl Ladies Open champion, and Ababa, winner of last year’s Malaysian Jr. Open, bucked the cold weather and tough playing condition at the par-74 layout as they combined for rounds of 76 and 77 to nip local bets Julianne Alvarez and Barbara Parreno by one in the alternate shot format event.

“We just complemented each other’s game. When she was playing bad, I hit the good shots and vice versa,” said Agojo after snapping a couple of heartbreaking finishes in her comeback from a long layoff.

Alvarez and Parreno struggled in the first round with a 79 and fell short of their bid with a 75, settling for second with a 154 while fellow Kiwis Emily Perry and Chantelle Cassidy wound up third with a 155 after a 78-77.

Chihiro Ikeda and Lovelynn Guioguio, who romped away with last year’s crown at the Napier Golf Club in Napier, NZ, groped for form with a pair of 81s and hobbled in seventh place with a 162.

But Agojo and Ababa got the job done, combining for three birdies against five bogeys to lead the 18-team field after 18 holes. They slowed down in the second round with two birdies against five bogeys but made a couple of clutch pars in the closing holes to hold off Alvarez and Parreno and retain the crown for the ICTSI-backed squad.

“The course was tough and the greens were super fast. But they held on, making two saved pars in the closing holes to clinch the title,” said ICTSI golf team coach Bong Lopez.

The victory augured well for Team ICTSI’s campaign in NZ with Agojo, Sarah and company going for another crown in the Stroke Play Championship slated April 20-22 before competing in the Match Play Championship on April 23-26, also at the Russley layout.