Uy, Malaysian pace RP Ladies by 1

Kathleen Uy came in unruffled by the wind in one of the afternoon flights, firing a two-under par 70 and gaining a share of the lead with Malaysian Ainil Johani Abu Bakar at the start of the ICTSI-Philippine Ladies Open Golf Championship yesterday in Laguna.

With the fancied bets, including members of the national pool who call the par-72 layout their home, struggling under tough playing condition, Uy, a Cebuana pursuing a degree in Mathematics at the University of San Francisco, played an impressive round of five birdies against three bogeys for nines of 33-37 which she said would’ve been better if not for her balky putter.

"The course was not that long, but it was in putting where I struggled," said the 17-year-old Uy, one of the three new members of the ICTSI golf pool. "The greens were very tricky."

Abu Bakar was fairly lucky to have drawn a much earlier flight although the 17-year-old mainstay of the Malaysian team displayed solid shotmaking and a superb short game to fire her own version of a 70 for a one-shot lead.

Fil-Am Cristina Corpus, who finished among the top 10 at Manila Golf Club last year, turned in the day’s only under-par card, a 71, for a share of third place with three foreigners — Yupaporn Kawinpakorn of Thailand and Indons Agnes Retno Sudjasmin and Lidya Ivana Jaya — even as Regina de Guzman fired an even 72 for joint fifth with Indonesian Andani.

Dottie Ardina, whose six international titles last year installed her as one of the favorites to rule this event, struggled a bit with a 73, the same output put in by Bacolod native Mia Piccio and Indonesia’s Juriah.

Debbie de Villa, down by viral infection and hampered by poor vision, got up from her hospital bed to defend the crown she won last year at the Manila Golf Club. But the diminutive champion failed to defy the odds and wound up with a fat 85.

"She had a viral infection and sub-conjunctival hemorrhage and played against medical advice. But she really wanted to compete although she played with a blurred vision and felt so weak," said De Villa’s mom Lilibeth. "But she said she will never quit."

Former winner Carmelette Villaroman, winner of the national amateur crown here last year, made a 76, her round hounded by a poor 40 at the frontside.

Thais Thidapa Suwannapura and Chayuda Singhsuwan shot 74 and 75, respectively, to stay within striking distance heading into the final two rounds of this event.

Chihiro Ikeda, another new recruit in the national pool, also made a 75 while fellow pool members Crystal Superal, Anya Tanpinco had 76 and 77, respectively.

Aileen Rose Yao, the third former champion in the field, shot a 78 like Junior World champion Cyna Rodriguez and Bambee dela Paz; Linnel de Guzman had an 80, while Lora Roberto, who came so close to winning this tournament until she blew a five-stroke lead in the final round three years ago, skied to an 81 and Sarah Jane Ababa made a 96.