As Ikeda folds up Agojo romps to easy win

SILANG, Cavite, Philippines - – Jayvie Agojo pounced on Chihiro Ikeda’s disastrous quintuple bogey on No. 11 to wrest control then birdied No. 16 and parred the last two holes to pound out a three-stroke victory in the P500,000 ICTSI Riviera Ladies Classic despite a closing one-over 73 at the Couples course here yesterday.

Ignoring her rival’s misfortune on the 11th, Agojo went from two-down to two-up despite a bogey on the par-5 hole, then went on an attack mode to hit two birdies against a bogey in the last seven to clinch the win, snapping a long spell on the ICTSI Ladies Philippine Golf Tour after a string of runner-up finishes last year.

“I really did not pay attention on the scores but kept focus on how to score birdies,” said Agojo, who ended up with the lone under-par total of 215 through the 54-hole tournament which served as the second leg of this year’s circuit sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc.

“Even if I was in the lead after what happened to Chihiro, I still went on an aggressive mode,” added Agojo as she heeded the advice of caddie pro Erwin Vinluan, who took over from Tonton Asistio, to go for the kill.

Agojo, who actually nailed her maiden pro win in Thailand last year but went on a spell in last year’s inaugurals of the country’s first-ever ladies pro circuit, pocketed the top purse of P100,000.

Ikeda, who took the lead from Agojo with a 71 Thursday, also went all-out after that 10 but just couldn’t hit birdies and settled for pars the rest of the way. She wound up with a 77 for a 218.

“It was unfortunate on what happened on No. 11,” rued Ikeda, who hit a butterfly off the tee, needed two shots to get out of the greenside bunker and reached the green in 6. Worse, she four-putted for that 10.

“I tried to strike back but just ran out of holes,” said Ikeda, who took home P70,000 and the stigma of that uncharacteristic 10 as she heads to Japan for a tournament next week.

Korean amateur Hwang Min Jeong, who threatened to within two with an impressive 70 in the second round, cracked when ranged against Agojo and Ikeda, hobbling with a 38 at the front and finishing with a 75. She, however, still took third place at 218 in the event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. and backed by Nike, Pacsports, Custom Clubmakers and Sharp.

Kwon Seo Yon, a Korean pro, carded a 74 and placed fourth at 220 but pocketed the third prize worth P45,000 while Anya Tanpinco and Sarah Ababa finished tied for fifth at 222 after a pair of 74s.

Lovelynn Guioguio, who had a solid 71 in the first round, hardly recovered from a 79 with a 77 to wind up seventh at 227 while Apple Fudolin made a 77, Lina de Guzman shot a 79 and amateur Ashia Nocum had a 79 and took the next three spots at 232, 234 and 236, respectively.