Cyna completes smashing pro debut

MANILA, Philippines - Cyna Rodriguez marked her pro debut in smashing fashion, outclassing the field with a closing 72 for a whopping eight-shot victory over Jayvie Agojo in the third leg of the ICTSI Ladies Philippine Golf Tour at Eagle Ridge Golf and Country Club in Gen. Trias, Cavite yesterday.

Enjoying a big eight-shot cushion after two rounds, Rodriguez played pressure-free all day, settling for pars in the first eight holes and mixing two birdies against two bogeys in the next 10 for a 37-35 round to cap her wire-to-wire triumph at the Aoki layout.

She missed completing a run of under-par rounds in three days after a 69 and 71 but succeeded in nailing the victory right in her maiden stint on the pro circuit with a four-under 212 total.

“I never became overconfident. I still took it hole by hole not thinking of the big lead,” said Rodriguez, who virtually wrapped it all up with an eight-shot lead over Agojo and Apple Fudolin after 36 holes Thursday.

“But it feels good playing and battling with friends and teammates for the crown. And I’m very happy to win on my pro debut,” added the former Philippine Ladies Open champion and last year’s Hong Kong Ladies Amateur Open winner who joined the pros after winning her last two amateur titles back-to-back in Long Beach and Sacramento last month.

Rodriguez produced the only under-par total in the tournament put up by International Container Terminal Services, Inc. and pocketed the top purse of P100,000 handed over by ICTSI Public Relations head Narlene Soriano during awards rites.

Her win also matched Dottie Ardina’s eight-shot victory over Chihiro Ikeda in the second leg of the circuit in Canlubang. Ardina also topped the first leg at The Country Club, coming from behind to beat amateurs Princess Superal and Rodriguez last May.

Agojo recovered from two early bogeys with two birdies in the last 12 holes to likewise card an even par 72 and clinch runner-up honors in the P500,000 event with a 220 worth P70,000 in the event backed by Nike Golf, Pacsports, Gatorade, Sharp and Custom Clubmakers.

Apple Fudolin likewise turned in her best finish thus far in the new ladies pro circuit shooting a 73 for third at 221. She took home P45,000.

Anya Tanpinco shot the only under-par round of 71 in scorching heat and salvaged fourth place with a 224 while Sarah Ababa made a 75 and wound up joint fifth at 232 with former Phl Ladies Open winner Heidi Chua, who made a 79.

Reb Bareng and Lucy Landicho shared seventh place at 235 after a 79 and 73, respectively, while Lovelynn Guioguio limped with a second 81 for ninth at 236 and Tracy Que ended up 10th at 239 after a 78.