Agojo, Ardina show way in Thailand, KL

MANILA, Philippines - Jayvie Agojo and Dottie Ardina turned in a pair of solid games as the top ICTSI bets seized control in the Thailand Ladies Amateur Open in Bangkok and RSGC AmBank Junior Amateur Open Golf Championship in Kuala Lumpur, respectively, late Wednesday.

Agojo, the reigning Hong Kong Amateur champion, birdied two of the last five holes to fire a two-under 70 at the Green Valley Country Club and force a three-way tie for the lead with local bets Pitsaon Chaichompoo, who had 34-36, and Pitsinee Winrayat, who carded two 35s.

Ornnicha Konsunthea shot a 71 while fellow Thais Sasima Anatasiri, Pathamaporn Ariyamatepreecha and Benyapa Niphatsophon shared fifth with 72s.

The ICTSI-Phl squad also took a one-stroke lead in team play with either Lovelynn Guioguio or Andie Unson’s 73 counting for the team’s 143 aggregate. Ariyamatepreecha and Niphatsophon were in second with a 144 while fancied Pinrath Loomboonruang and Pornvipa Sakdee stood two shots farther back with a 146 after a 72 and 74, respectively.

Over at the Royal Selangor Golf Club in Malaysia, Ardina shot a second straight 71 to pull away by six over teammate Sarah Ababa after two rounds of play.

Ardina, last year’s winner of the Thai Amateur and priming up for her title defense in the Queen Sirikit Cup next month, dished out top form for the second straight day, hitting all greens in regulation although she muffed a couple of birdie opportunities on her way home.

Still, Ardina’s 142 aggregate put her way ahead of the field with Ababa matching par 72 for a 148 and Malaysian Genevieve Ling fumbling with a 75 for a 152.

Ababa actually fought back from a two-over card after nine holes with birdies on Nos. 12 and 15 but she ran out of holes to gain grounds on Ardina in the premier 18-and-under division.

Princess Superal, meanwhile, moved closer to a second title in as many weeks as she kept a two-shot lead with a second 74 in the 15-and-under category of the 54-hole tournament featuring the leading junior players in the region.

Superal, who copped the premier individual title in last week’s Montecillo Cup, had a 148 as she held off ICTSI teammate Daniella Uy, who also had a 74 for a 150, heading to the final 18 holes.

Local bet Siti Shaari stood too far behind at 155 after a 78.