Nagai, Bjorklund share Philippine Ladies Open honors

MANILA, Philippines - Riko Nagai and Rowena Bjorklund turned in a pair of strong finishes to dominate their respective divisions in the Philippine Ladies Open Golf Championship presented by Champion Infinity at the Midlands in Tagaytay Friday.

Nagai, who took control with an 88 in the first round but reeled back with a 92 Thursday, saved her best for last, firing an 84 to turn back erstwhile leader Stella Barnes for the Class A crown while Bjorklund closed out with a second 90 to run away with the Class B diadem.

The Japanese shotmaker pooled a 264 to post a five-shot romp over Barnes, who faltered with a 92 after an impressive 85 for a 269 while Marilyn Reyes rallied with an 88 to snatch third place at 272 in the 54-hole championship organized and conducted by the Women’s Golf Association of the Philippines.

Catalina Neish and Soon Hak Jung shot identical 93s to finish tied for fourth at 279 while Hee Sun Kim ended up sixth at 280 after a 98 and Karen Buenaventura fought back with an 88 for a 281.

Bjorklund, on the other hand, outclassed the Class B field, pooling a 283 for a whopping 16-point win over Sun Ok Park, who shot a second 97 for a 299 while Melody Trovag placed third with a 311 after a 99 and Maricel Galisim ended up fourth with a 319 after a 108 in the event backed by Filinvest Alabang, Inc., Metro Pacific, Shell, Taishan Insurance Brokers, Inc., MEC, Jewelmer, G&W Clubshares, Inc. and Vermogen.

Nagai and Bjorklund thus joined amateur ace Princess Superal in the podium finish after the former US Girls’ Junior champion held off Yuka Saso and The Country Club teammate Pauline del Rosario to snare the Open championship.

Superal squandered an overnight four-shot lead but cashed in on her rivals’ miscue on the final hole to capture the crown with a 214 after a 73, her fifth straight after closing out the 2015 season with four victories abroad then opening this year’s campaign with an emphatic victory in the Hong Kong Ladies Amateur Open two weeks ago.

Saso bogeyed the final hole and settled for a 70, missing forcing a playoff at 215 while Del Rosario ended up with a 72 and finished tied for third with TCC teammate Mikha Fortuna, who also matched par 72, at 217.

The event is supported by Tagaytay Highlands Ladies Chapter, Alabang Ladies Golf Chapter, Canlubang Ladies Chapter, Forest Hills Ladies Circle, Manila Golf Ladies Chapter, URC-C2, Midlands Golf Club, Rockport and Impact Golf magazine.