Cyna kicks off LPGA campaign in Bahamas

MANILA, Philippines – Cyna Rodriguez hopes to shake off rookie jitters as she kicks off her campaign on women’s golf biggest stage – the LPGA – which fires off Thursday (Friday in Manila) with the Pure Silk Bahamas LPGA Classic in Paradise Island, Bahamas.

Rodriguez made it to the lucrative circuit on her first try by placing joint fourth in the Q-School Final Stage, confident of sustaining her fine form against the world’s best in the four-day championship staking a total prize fund of $1.4 million.

She tees off on No. 10 at 11:20 a.m. with Jennifer Johnson and Christine Song.

The Filipina ace, who toughened up in the ICTSI Ladies Philippine Golf Tour which she dominated for three years, had a couple of practice rounds then expressed confidence of measuring up with the elite field over the wind-raked par-73, 6,625-yard layout.

“It’s quite tough but I’m excited to get going. It’s a different kind of challenge but I don’t want to set high expectations this early although I hope to do good on my first tournament,” said Rodriguez, the former The Country Club mainstay who became the first Filipina to earn an LPGA card since two-time LPGA winner Jennifer Rosales made it in 2000.

Korean Sei Young Kim, who beat major winner Sun Young Yoo and then fellow rookie Ariya Jutanugard in a playoff to win last year, heads the crack field that includes Stacy Lewis, Inbee Park, Julie Inkster, Candie Kung, Pornanong Phatlum, Kristie Keer, Mika Miyazato, Morgan Pressel, Catriona Matthew, Angela Stanford, Christina Kim, Minjee Lee, Ai Miyazato, Jessica Korda, Paula Creamer, Lexi Thompson, Michelle Wie, Yani Tseng, Brittany Lincicome, Cheyenne Woods and Chinese Simin Feng, the Q-School topnotcher.