Southwoods pulls away on Agojo's fiery card

MANILA, Philippines - Reigning Hong Kong Amateur Open champion Jayvie Agojo frolicked with a three-under par 69 worth 57 PAL points as Manila Southwoods scored a 160 and pulled away by 32 points over Del Monte halfway through the Philippine Airlines Ladies Interclub golf tournament in Davao yesterday.

Agojo, who missed about three close birdie putts in the first round, hit two birdies in the front nine of the Rancho Palos Verdes Golf and Country Club then birdied the two par-3s at the back from 20 feet out to negate her lone bogey on No. 2.

With Miya Legaspi shooting 52 points while Lora Roberto adding a 51, Southwoods pooled a 160 for a 314 aggregate.

Agojo’s two-day haul of 109 at the short 5,098-yard layout likewise shoved the former Philippine Ladies Open champion and spearhead of the ICTSI golf team to the lead in individual play.

Korean Kyung Jun-Hee’s 36 didn’t count in the four-to-play, three-to-count format of the revival of the event featuring the leading golfing ladies from the country’s top clubs.

“We are ahead but we’ll not be complacent,” said Southwoods captain Beachie Abiera.

Del Monte, which started the day just four behind, reeled back with a 132 with Eva Miñoza scoring a 46 and 12-year-old Rainstar Roque and Kristine Leonen adding 45 and 41, respectively.

The Anya Tanpinco-led Negros squad also pulled away from Alabang in the Founders Division by 26 points as it assembled a 136 for a 268.

Tanpinco churned out a 54 while Gaby Monfort shot a 43 and Maite Lustre added a 39.

Alabang, winner in the last PAL Ladies Interclub in 1988, pooled a 242 after a second straight 121 while Riviera scored 110 for a 229.

In the Sportswriters Division, Manila Southwoods-Legends likewise built a 20-point lead against Eagle Ridge and Bacolod with a 97 for a 206.

Sandy Velhagen fired 36 points while Heidi Schettkat and Serafina Young-mi added 32 and 29 points, respectively.

Eagle Ridge shot a 93 while Bacolod slowed down with a 89 for identical 186s.

Meanwhile, Rancho Palos Verdes assembled a 107 for a 204 and posted a 25-point lead over Apo Golf in the Friendship division. 

Apo Golf had a 179 after an 88 while Victorias scored a 78 for a 160.