Cyna seeks 4th in row at LPGT Splendido tilt

MANILA, Philippines - Cyna Rodriguez sets out as the heavy favorite as she shoots for her fourth straight victory and fifth overall when the ICTSI Ladies Philippine Golf Tour stages its sixth leg – the ICTSI Splendido Ladies Invitational – which unwraps Wednesday  at Splendido Taal Golf Club in Tagaytay.

While the wind-raked, ravine-laced par-72 layout is expected to provide a different kind of challenge for the compact field, odds remain stacked on Rodriguez’s side owing to her fierce form and confidence that steered her to three straight victories – in emphatic fashions.

Winner over Thai Amolkan Phalajivin by 11 and 10 shots at ICTSI John Hay and Mt. Malarayat the last two months, Rodriguez added the ICTSI Eagle Ridge Ladies Invitational crown, foiling amateur Pauline del Rosario by five at Aoki course two weeks ago.

“I am looking to finish strong,” said Rodriguez, referring to her awesome campaign on the country’s premier ladies pro tour launched last year by the International Container Terminal Services, Inc. “I started it (with a win), so I might as well end it with a victory.”

That should make her the top pick for another P100,000 purse unless of course the likes of Jayvie Agojo, Phalajivin, Sarah Ababa, Lovelynn Guioguio and Korean Kwon Seo Yon step up and provide the real challenge for the former Philippine Ladies Open champion, who also ruled the kickoff leg at Orchard last April.

Agojo somewhat broke Rodriguez’s domination by winning the second leg at ICTSI LPGA Riviera, where she held off Chihiro Ikeda by three although observers noted that she did it because Rodriguez didn’t see action.

But expect Agojo, also a former Phl Ladies Open winner, and the rest to go all-out and foil Rodriguez’s streak in the upcoming 54-hole tournament backed by Nike, Pacsports, Custom Clubmakers and Sharp.

From Splendido, action on the ICTSI LPGT shifts to Antipolo for the penultimate leg, the ICTSI Valley Golf Ladies Challenge on Oct. 14-16 before the eight-leg tour winds up in Gen. Trias, Cavite for the ICTSI Sherwood Ladies Championship at Sherwood Hills Golf Club on Nov. 26-28.

Others expected to vie at Splendido are Anya Tanpinco, Lucy Landicho, Lina de Guzman, Sylvia Torres, Jan Punzalan, Eva Miñoza and Korean amateur Hwang Min Jeong, who placed ninth at Eagle Ridge.