North keeps lead after standoff

CANLUBANG, Philippines – North and South battled to a 2-2 draw in the foursomes yesterday, enabling the former to preserve a one-point lead heading to today’s deciding singles matches in the ICTSI Ladies Philippine Golf Tour’s Duel – North vs South at Cangolf’s South course here.

Cyna Rodriguez and Lucy Landicho kept their win run going while teaming up for the first time for Team North as they routed Apple Fudolin and Chihiro Ikeda, 4&3, in the last group to negate South’s early surge after Anya Tanpinco also made it two-in-row, this time with Barsy Leonen, and Lovelynn Guioguio and Sarah Ababa clipped Reb Bareng and Lina de Guzman, 3&1.

Tanpinco, who with skipper Sylvia Torres routed Mary Grace Estuesta and Majorie Pulumbarit, 4&3, in the first day, mastered the North team captain and Pulumbarit with Leonen as partner, duplicating their 4&3 romp in the best-ball format.

But Heidi Chua also went two-for-two after teaming up with Landicho in nipping Leonen and Fudolin, 1-up, in the four-balls Wednesday, as she partnered with a debuting Jan Punzalan in disposing of Sylvia Torres and Eva Miñoza, 3&2, in the alternate-shot format of the three-day event sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc. and organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

With the second day draw, Team North takes a 4 1/2-3 1/2 lead over Team South, making all the eight singles matches today crucial in each side’s bid for the championship in the inaugural event backed by Nike Golf, Pacsports, Custom Clubmakers and Sharp.

“The foursomes was a tough format and we missed Jayvie,” said Estuesta, referring to Jayvie Agojo, who with De Guzman fought Guioguio and Ababa to an all-square game Wednesday but had to skip yesterday’s event to attend to her ailing mom.

But Estuesta remains upbeat of her team’s chances in the singles, saying: “I have faith in my team. I expect all of them to deliver and for sure, we will have fun.”

Torres also exuded confidence heading to the final round, stressing: “It’s just a one-point lead. We’ll all go out there fighting and I also expect all my players to dish out their best.”

Landicho and Torres kick off the interesting eight-pair duels at 8 a.m. followed by Estuesta and Guioguio, Chua and Ikeda with Agojo returning against Tanpinco.

Rodriguez goes for a sweep of all her three matches, facing off with Miñoza while Bareng and Ababa tangle in the sixth pairing and Punzalan battling Fudolin and De Guzman squaring off with Leonen.