Cyna-Princess duel looms as LPGT Malarayat unwraps

MANILA, Philippines - Princess Superal signed up for the ICTSI Ladies Philippine Golf Tour’s Mt. Malarayat Ladies Classic, upbeat of her chances while bracing for what looms to be another title clash with top gun Cyna Rodriguez beginning today at Mt. Malarayat’s composite courses in Lipa, Batangas.

Superal nipped Rodriguez in a playoff to snare the LPGT Wack Wack crown last April before the top ICTSI-The Country Club bet resumed her campaign abroad, winning a couple of championships and placing eighth in the recent British Ladies Amateur Open.

“It will be tough to score a repeat since Cyna is a solid player. But I’ll try my very best,” said Superal, 18, during a break in yesterday’s practice round. “I just hope my putting will click.”

But Rodriguez is also all pumped up heading into the 54-hole championship, and like Superal, is raring to nail another victory in this year’s circuit sponsored by ICTSI after dominating the Riviera stage last May.

Six other amateurs are entered in the P500,000 event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc., including Superal’s TCC teammates Sofia Chabon and Abby Arevalo, who are also coming into the event toughened up by a series of junior tournaments in the US.

Also in the fold are former TCC mainstay Yuka Saso, Sofia Blanco and Koreans Hwang Min Jeong and Koh Eu Na.

Focus will also be on Sarah Ababa, seeking a follow-up to her breakthrough romp at Sherwood last June while former leg winner and Philippine Ladies Open champion Jayvie Agojo hopes to end a string of poor finishes with a solid performance this week.

Chihiro Ikeda also signed up for the event, itching to finally nail the elusive win along with Koreans Kim So Un and Oh Yeji, and local bets Lovelynn Guioguio, Apple Fudolin, Majorie Pulumbarit, Lucy Landicho, Barsy Leonen and England’s Sarah Henderson.

The event, backed by Nike Golf, Pacsports, Custom Clubmakers and Sharp, serves as the penultimate leg of the eight-stage circuit with the touring ladies winding up their chase at Southwoods for the ICTSI Manila Southwoods Ladies Classic on Oct. 27-29.