Focus on Cyna, Thai as ICTSI LPGT unwraps

MANILA, Philippines - Cyna Rodriguez sets out as the top favorite but a slew of others goes all out to foil her bid, including Amolkan Phalajivin of Thailand, in today’s start of the ICTSI Orchard Golf Ladies Classic at Orchard’s Player Course in Dasmariñas, Cavite.

The 54-hole championship serves as the kickoff leg of an eight-stage circuit marking the second season of the ICTSI Ladies Philippine Golf Tour, which the International Container Terminal Services, Inc. put up last year to provide the country’s top and rising golfing ladies a circuit of their own vis-à-vis the men’s tour.

Rodriguez took the inaugural Order of Merit crown in the country’s first-ever ladies pro tour, winning two of the five legs while barely nipping Jayvie Agojo for the coveted plum. She hopes to start the season on a winning note but faces a lot of challenges – from her fellow local campaigners and Phalajivin and Korean Seo Yon Kwon.

Phalajivin, who used to campaign on the Asian Ladies Pro Tour, served notice of her bid to dominate by topping the recent Qualifying School at Eagle Ridge and her presence should give Rodriguez and the rest of the local aces something to watch out for.

At stake in the P500,000 event is the top purse of P100,000 and the momentum and confidence they would need as the circuit, organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. and sponsored by Nike Golf, Pacsports , Custom Clubmakers and Sharp, heads to Baguio for the second leg on June 25-27.

Riviera will stage the next leg on July 1-3 for the Riviera Ladies Invitational followed by the Mt. Malarayat Ladies Classic on Aug. 12-14, the Eagle Ridge Ladies Invitational on Sept. 9-11, the Calatagan Ladies Classic on Sept. 24-26, the Valley Golf Ladies Challenge on Oct. 14-16, and the Manila Southwoods Ladies Championship on Nov. 5-7.

Agojo, a former Philippine Ladies Open champion who nearly snatched the OOM crown despite going winless in all five legs last year, also hopes to come out strong along with former national mainstays Chihiro Ikeda, Sarah Ababa, Lovelynn Guioguio and Anya Tanpinco.

Ikeda, for one, is expected to figure prominently in the title race with the former SEA Games gold medalist raring to showcase her shotmaking skills honed up by stints in Japan.

Others vying for the crown are Reb Bareng, Lina De Guzman, Apple Fudolin, Lucy Landicho, Barsy Leonen, Eva Miñoza, Majorie Pulumbarit, Jan Punzalan and former Philippine Ladies Open champion Mary Grace Estuesta.