Cyna, Jayvie pull off thrillers in US Women's Amateur

MANILA, Philippines - Cyna Rodriguez and Jayvie Agojo escaped with a pair of 1-up victories over their respective rivals to advance to the second round of the US Women’s Amateur Match Play but Dottie Ardina fell by the wayside at The Country Club in Cleveland, Ohio Wednesday.

Rodriguez, the former Philippine Ladies Amateur Open champion, actually looked headed for a rout after going 5-up after 11 holes on two birdies and two pars. But the US-based ICTSI golf scholar floundered, enabling Ani Gulugian of California to close within one with a par and three straight birdies from No. 12.

But Rodriguez, ranked No. 16 after the 36-hole stroke play elims, held on and matched Gulugian’s pars in the last two holes to eke out a 1-up victory and arrange a Last 32 duel with No. 17 Nicole Zhang of Canada, who routed Jaclyn Jansen of Illinois, 6&5.

Agojo also took command of her matchup with Emily Childs of California, posting a 2-up lead after No. 9. But like Rodriguez, she wavered at the back, needing to sink a delicate five-foot par putt on the 18th to snatch the win as Childs holed out with a bogey.

The reigning Hong Kong Amateur Open champion, however, will have her hands full in the second round of the knockout stage as she faces No. 8 Natalie Gleadall, also of Canada, who beat Grace Na of California, 2&1.

But while Rodriguez and Agojo pulled through, Ardina never recovered from bogey mishaps on Nos. 5, 7 and 9 as she fell from as many as four holes down to Austin Ernst of South Carolina, who went on to fashion out a 4&3 romp over the top ICTSI-backed bet.

Low medalist Kim Hyo-joo of Korea played true to form and disposed of Megan Kang, 7&6, while No. 2 Lydia Ko of New Zealand and No. 3 Ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand rolled on with 4&3 and 3&1 victories over Amy Simanton and Jennifer Yang, respectively.