Cyna recovers, bags Sacramento Cup golf

MANILA, Philippines - Cyna Rodriguez bucked a double-bogey mishap on the final hole with a clutch birdie from 12 feet in sudden death, edging Alexandra Wong and capturing the Sacramento City Women’s Amateur golf crown at the Bing Maloney course in California Monday.

Rodriguez used a near-impeccable short game to overhaul a three-stroke deficit, closing out with an eagle-spiked three-under 70. But she needed to toughen up in playoff to complete the come-from-behind win, her second in as many weeks in the US circuit.

Wong, who sizzled with a seven-under 66 in the first round, struggled with her form and wilted under pressure from the top ICTSI-backed bet, finishing with an even 73 and dropping into a tie with Rodriguez at 139.

But Rodriguez, who also charged back from three strokes down to defeat Han Wu in Long Beach last week, hit a superb approach shot on the first playoff hole then banged in a 12-footer for birdie to clinch the crown.

“I wasn’t hitting the ball that well today. I didn’t really go to where I wanted it go but I had to play with what I have,” said Rodriguez, also the reigning Hong Kong Amateur Open champion.

“She actually struggled with her driving but made some good up-and-downs and got lucky when she chipped in for an eagle,” said ICTSI team coach Bong Lopez, referring to his ward’s eagle-3 on No. 6 from the green side.

“My 50-70 yard shots were precise, landing them just a few feet from the hole,” said Rodriguez.

Down by three despite a four-under 69 in the opening round, Rodriguez tapped in for birdie on the third hole, rolled in an eagle on the sixth and knocked down a 15-footer for birdie on the ninth. She reeled back with a three-putt mishap on No. 11 but hit a pair of three-footers for birdies on Nos. 14 and 17.

But she hit an errant drive again on the 18th and three-putted for a double-bogey, enabling Wong to gain a crack at the crown.

The Sacramento meet is the second of a series of US tournaments lined up for the ICTSI-sponsored bets, who also include Princess Superal, Sofia Chabon, Abbey Arevalo and Pauline del Rosario.