North eyes payback in LPGT Duel Part 2

MANILA, Philippines - Cyna Rodriguez sees another down-to-the-wire battle with Team South in the ICTSI Ladies Philippine Golf Tour’s Duel 2 – North vs South – but the Team North spearhead vows to steer the squad to victory this time after falling short the first time out.

“I believe it’s going to be a hell of a match because each team would try to end the year with a win no less,” said Rodriguez, whose squad led in the fourballs and foursomes but lost five of the eight singles matches to yield the inaugural crown last year.

That should make the second edition worth watching when it is played beginning tomorrow at the South Links Golf Club in Las Piñas.
The sponsoring International Container Terminal Services, Inc. is staging the sequel to last year’s thriller as part of its commitment to boost ladies pro golf and at the same time give the country’s lady pros some kind of a get-together in a Ryder Cup-style showdown following another successful LPGT season.

Like in the men’s series, the Luzon-based players will slug it out with their counterparts from the Visayas-Mindanao region in the three-day tournament ending Dec. 18.

The field will have their practice round today with the newest golf club in Las Piñas also expected to provide a different kind of challenge for the golfing ladies with its tight fairways and unpredictable putting green.

Team South trailed in the fourballs and foursomes formats but took five of eight matches in the deciding singles to score a thrilling 9-7 victory in last year’s inaugurals at Canlubang Golf and Country Club’s South course.

But Rodriguez and company, including Riviera leg winner Jayvie Agojo, Jan Punzalan, Majorie Pulumbarit, Lucy Landicho and Lina de Guzman along with former Philippine Ladies Open champions Heidi Chua and Mary Grace Estuesta, hope to even things up with their Southern rivals in the event backed by Nike, Pacsports, Custom Clubmakers and Sharp.

Sarah Ababa and Barsy Leonen, who delivered the Duel-clinching victories last year, are back for Team South along with Chihiro Ikeda, Apple Fudolin, Lovelynn Guioguio, Eva Miñoza, Sylvia Torres, Anya Tanpinco and Tracy Que – all raring to make it back-to-back in the event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. and backed by Nike, Pacsports, Custom Clubmakers and Sharp.

Four matches – foursomes (alternate shot) and fourball (best ball) – are on tap in the first two days – with the singles – eight matches – slated in the final day. The first team to win 8.5 points clinches the Duel.