Agojo eyes first LPGT win

MANILA, Philippines - Jayvie Agojo sets out for the ICTSI Riviera Ladies Classic, all primed up to nail the elusive win when the P500,000 ICTSI Ladies Philippine Golf Tour event is fired off Wednesday at Riviera’s Couples layout in Silang, Cavite.

Agojo has had a series of heartbreak finishes in last year’s inaugurals of the country’s first-ever ladies pro tour, turning in a pair of runner-up finishes and barely losing the Order of Merit crown at the close of the five-leg circuit in Baguio.

The former Philippine Ladies Open champion also placed second to Cyna Rodriguez in this year’s ICTSI LPGT kickoff leg at Orchard last April but hopes to put it all together this week to finally bag the coveted crown.

“It’s still anybody’s game. But if the break goes my way and my putt falls, I am going to do very well,” said Agojo, who actually scored her breakthrough pro win at SIngha LPGA in Thailand last September.

But she will be up against a field also chasing their first win on the circuit sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc. and organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc,, including likely rival Chihiro Ikeda.

The Fil-Japanese, a former SEA Games individual golf medalist and a former Phl Ladies Open winner, is out to make up for her final day meltdown at Orchard when she closed out with a 75 and yielded the runner-up honors to Agojo.

“I hope to do it this time and be able to put on a strong finishing kick,” said Ikeda.

Expected to crowd Agojo and Ikeda for the crown are former ICTSI teammates Anya Tanpinco, Sarah Jane Ababa and Lovelynn Guioguio, while Reb Bareng, Lina de Guzman, Sylvia Torres and Apple Fudolin are also raring to contend for the crown in the circuit backed by Nike, Pacsports, Custom Clubmakers and Sharp.