MANILA, Philippines - Lee Jeong Hwa threatened to blow away the field with a fiery four-under 68 as she stormed to a four-stroke lead over youthful Princess Superal and into the threshold of a record romp in the 50th Philippine Ladies Open at Wack Wack’s East course yesterday.
A sizzling run of five birdies in a 10-hole stretch from No. 4 sent the 17-year-old Lee away of the chasing pack, her 34-34 round and a 142 aggregate moving her 18 holes from becoming the first Korean to annex the country’s premier championship marking its golden staging.
“I can’t say what will happen tomorrow (today),” said Lee, playing out of Manila Southwoods where she placed second to Louise Manalo in the 2009 edition of the annual event sponsored by Champion Infinity and presented by Pacsports.
“But I feel I can win it this time,” added the Busan native, who negated her bogeys on Nos. 3 and 18 with birdies on Nos. 2, 4, 5, 10, 11 and 13 inside seven feet.
But no lead is safe at Wack Wack with Superal likewise eager to cap her remarkable surge and contend for the crown along with three other players laying six to eight strokes off the pace.
Superal took the challenger’s role as erstwhile pursuer Jayvie Agojo faltered with a 74 and the other favorites failed to rebound from so-so opening rounds, firing a gutsy 70 for a 146.
The 14-year-old Superal, a multi-winner on the ICTSI Jungolf Circuit, matched Lee’s opening 34 and a birdie on the 10th but bogeyed the par-3 to settle for a two-under card.
“My putting was good and I hope I can sustain it for me to have a chance against her (Lee),” said Superal, the newest member of the ICTSI squad.
Club bet Felicia Medalla, 15, turned from awful to awesome with a three-under 69, marked by five birdies, including the tough No. 18 from where she holed out from 24 feet, as the two-time club champion snatched a spot in today’s championship flight with a 148.
“I didn’t really expect to have this kind of game I just prayed to God, gave my best and let my game come,” said Medalla.
Agojo, who put herself in early contention for a second crown after ruling the 2005 edition, wavered coming home with two bogeys in the last three holes, dropping to the second-to-last flight at 149 in the tournament organized by Women’s Golf Association of the Phils.
Lovelynn Guioguio, who copped the Philippine Amateur crown last Sunday, rallied with a 34 at the back and ended up with a 71, moving to solo fifth with a 150, eight strokes off Lee.
The rest stood too far behind with Thais Savitree Thavong and Supamas Sangchan assembling 152s after a 74 and 76, in a tie with Claire Amelia Legaspi, who had a 74, Andie Unson, who made a second 76.
Yupaporn Kawinpakorn, winner here in 2007, struggled all day and hobbled with a birdie-less 80 for a 158 while Dottie Ardina put to naught a decent 36 opening with a horrible 46 for an 82 and a 162.
Other backers of the event are hole-in-one sponsors Diamond Motors, Mitsubishi Motors, Mizuno and Titleist, and Duty Free Phils., Purefoods, San Miguel Corp., and Philippine Daily Inquirer, Omnisource, Coca-Cola, ABS-CBN, Alabang Ladies, Bailey’s, Burger King, Canlubang Ladies, De Capricho Jewellers, EEI, Forest Hills Ladies, Green Cross, Holiday Inn, Jardin San Antonio Memorial Park, Malarayat Ladies, Mancare Health Systems, Inc., Manila Golf Ladies, Megaforce Security and Allied Services, Inc., Mills, Nescafe, RCBC, Southwoods Ladies, Sta. Elena Ladies, Tagaytay Highlands Ladies, Tres Palmas, Waterworld Trading Corp., Villamor Golf Club Ladies Chapter and A Round of Golf.