Agojo ends drought, cops HK crown

MANILA, Philippines - Jayvie Agojo steeled herself up in a backside duel with Chinese Taipei’s Peng Chieh and fashioned out a three-stroke victory with a closing one-under 71 in the Hong Kong Ladies Amateur Open Golf Championship in Fanling late Thursday.

Agojo, 25, outgunned Chieh in a four-hole stretch at the back of the HK Golf Club’s Old Course, hitting long birdies on Nos. 13 (40 feet) and No. 16 (20 feet) while rescuing a par on the 15th to frustrate her rival and clinch her first crown since coming back from motherhood into competitive golf last year.

The Taiwanese settled for 72 and a 218 while Lovelynn Guioguio rallied with a two-under 70 to finish third at 221. First day leader Dottie Ardina failed to check her skid and limped home with a 77, ending up in fourth with a 222.

The former Philippine Ladies Open champion actually won the New Zealand Foursomes early in the year but she did it in a team-up with ICTSI teammate Sarah Ababa.

“I just kept my focus throughout and got some breaks with those long birdies,” said Agojo, who pooled a 215 aggregate in the 54-hole tournament. “It’s a great feeling to win again.”

It was indeed a huge victory for Agojo, who also romped off with the Mid-Amateur title in the annual event, beating HK’s Jane Lo, who had a 246 after an 84, for a whopping 31-stroke win.

“She has been working on her game and looking for this victory for so long. She has actually contended for a couple of titles this year but folded up in the final round. This time, she proved she still got what it takes to win,” said ICTSI golf team coach Bong Lopez of the former Pepperdine University standout, who re-joined the squad last year.

Chieh came to within one off Agojo after nine holes, matched the Filipina’s birdie on No. 10 and pars in the next two holes but missed a birdie on the 13th. She bogeyed No. 15 and missed another six-foot birdie putt on No. 16, enabling Agojo to pull away by four with two holes.