No drama, no thrilla for hot Cyna

GEN. TRIAS, Cavite, Philippines  – Cyna Rodriguez made it three-in-row on the ICTSI Ladies Philippine Golf Tour, highlighting her latest feat with an ace on No. 6 en route to a bogey-free 67 and a five-stroke victory.

Amateur Pauline del Rosario came in second  wirh a 72 ICTSI Eagle Ridge Ladies Invitational at Eagle Ridge’s Aoki course here yesterday.

Though her winning margin was way below her 11- and 10-shot romps over Thai Amolkan Phalajivin at ICTSI John Hay and Mt. Malarayat legs the last two months, it still proved convincing as she practically settled the issue after scoring a hole-in-one on No. 6.

“That (ace) really made my day,” said Rodriguez, who quickly went 4-up over Del Rosario after acing the 168-yard hole with a Titleist 5-iron and Pro V1x ball.

With her ace, Rodriguez made the turn at 34 and raced away by five over Del Rosario, who surprised the pro field to lead in the first round with a 71 but dropped into a tie with Rodriguez after 36 holes and fell by two early in the final round with three-putt bogeys on Nos. 2 and 3.

The De La Salle-Zobel student bounced back with a birdie on the fourth but seemed to have been overwhelmed by Rodriguez’s ace that she bogeyed No. 6, enabling the latter to pull away by four with that rare three-shot swing.

“I guess that ace also shook Pauline’s confidence since she was on the chase going to No. 6,” said Rodriguez, whose closing five-under card gave her a 54-hole aggregate of 211 worth another P100,000.

Del Rosario, gearing up for the Asian Games two weeks from now, fought back at the back, gunning down three birdies to salvage a 33 and a 72 for solo second at even 216.

“It was a lot of fun playing with the pros and I have learned a lot. It will surely guide me in the future,” said the 15-year-old Del Rosario, one of the members of the ICTSI golf squad set to join reigning US Girls Juniors champion Princess Superal and Asian Youth Games gold medalist Miya Legaspi in the Asian Games in Korea two weeks from now. 

Phalajivin also rebounded with a closing 34 to save a 72 and ended up solo third at 219 while pocketing her third P70,000 runner-up prize in the circuit sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc.

Chihiro Ikeda birdied Nos. 14 and 15 to card a 73 for fourth at 222 worth P45,000 while Sarah Ababa fumbled with two late bogeys and wound up with a 76 for fifth at 224.

Lovelynn Guioguio hobbled with a 77 after a 71 and wound up sixth at 225 followed up by Korean Kwon Seo Yon, who turned in a 75 for sixth at 225 and Riviera leg winner Jayvie Agojo, who skied to an 80 for a 231.

Korean amateur Hwang Min Jeong rallied with a 73 and finished ninth at 232 while Anya Tanpinco struggled with a 78 for a 242 and wound up 10th in the 54-hole tournament organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. and backed by Nike, Pacsports, Custom Clubmakers and Sharp.

The win was actually Rodriguez’s fourth after five legs, counting her five-stroke victory over Ikeda in the circuit’s kickoff leg at Orchard last April with the former Philippine Ladies Open champion far from slowing down in her title chase.

“It’s a learning process, like in school. I keep myself fit to be able to meet the demands of the pro life,” said Rodriguez.