Roberto nears biggest win, up by 4

Lora Roberto translated two scrambling pars on the last two holes into a four-shot lead over Lucy Landicho in yesterday’s penultimate round of the Philippine Ladies Open golf championship at Manila Golf Club course.

Finishing with a four-over-par 75 after those giant saves, including one from the bunker on the 18th, Roberto watched Landicho (78) slip with a couple of bogeys to complete her own round and moved closer to her biggest victory yet.

Roberto, whose best finish in four stints here was solo fourth last year won by the now-professional Heidi Chua, was at 149 after 36 holes counting her opening round effort of 74. Landicho was at 153.

The next eight players in the standings are tightly bunched with Francis Bondad, a two-handicapper from Australia, shooting a second straight 77 for 154 to keep her bid alive in solo third,

Jungolfer Jayvie Agojo matched Roberto’s day-best score of 75 to jump to solo fourth at 155, two shots clear of Hong Kong’s Anna Yu (79-157). Next came Remijin Camping (80-159) and Carmelette Villaroman (82-160).

"I will try to stay focused and treat it one shot at a time," said the 27-year-old Roberto of her big date with glory.

Roberto is a member of the Manila Southwoods talent pool who played for the national team (with Villaroman) in The Spirit International in Houston, Texas last year.

Her most memorable win so far was topping the Luzvimin Invitational two years ago although the remarkable improvement in her game allowed Roberto to qualify for the 2003 US Public Links Championship.

Tournament sponsors include the Pagcor, PCSO, the First Gentleman Foundation, Golden Donuts, Rep. Gilberto Duavit, Equitable-PCI Bank, ICTSI, Inquirer Golf Monthly, Slazenger, Nike Park and Crucible Gallery.

Landicho, third here last year, said Roberto’s lead is quite big but promised to "play her best."

Two double bogeys, on the first and fifth, marred Landicho’s round but she fought back and was even tied for the lead with Roberto going into the last two holes.

While Roberto saved two precious strokes on the closing holes, Landicho did not and that meant like a four-shot swing that told heavily on her bid to stay even.