Phl ladies collapse, lose by 1

HONG KONG – Thailand pounced on the Philippines’ backside meltdown to snatch a one-stroke victory with a closing 220 as the Filipina golfers fumbled with a 224 in the final of the Santi Cup of the Southeast Asian Amateur Golf Team Championship at the Clearwater Bay Golf and Country Club here, recently.
Dottie Ardina went over par for the first time, finishing with a 72 but which still stood as the team’s best score as Andie Unson made a 75 and Chihiro Ikeda blew it all at the back with a 41 for a 77.
Jayvie Agojo also wavered at the finish and didn’t count with a 78.
The Philippines, which led by three heading to the final day on rounds of 207, 209, 213, wound up with an 853 and lost by one.
Thailand didn’t do well either, shooting a 219 after a 210, 208, 214. But the Thais cashed in on the Pinays’ collapse in the closing holes with Pavarisa Yoktuan and Panitta Yusabai clinching the win with final hole birdies.
Pinrath Loomboonruang, playing in the final flight with Ardina, holed out with a bogey to make it a one-shot win as she matched Ardina’s 72 while Yoktuan and Yusabai carded a 73 and 75, respectively, for a 220 and an 852 aggregate.
The Thais moved within one after nine holes but ICTSI-backed bets surged to a running seven-shot lead after the top two Phl scorers totaled one-over par before Ikeda stumbled with a double-bogey on No. 13.
Thailand started the backside with a combined seven-over card but re-grouped as Loomboonruang and Phaewchimplee both birdied No. 15 to bounce back.
Ikeda earlier bogeyed No. 14 which Agojo double-bogeyed before the latter dropped two more strokes in the last four holes and was scratched out.
“We were up by 7 before Ikeda made a double-bogey on No. 13. They simply collapsed,” rued ICTSI golf and national team coach Bong Lopez. “We just gave it to them.”
It was a sorry fold-up by the Filipinas, whose campaign was sanctioned by the National Golf Association of the Phils. and supported by ICTSI and the Philippine Sports Commission, who took the lead right in the first round and kept it with gutsy rounds in the next two days only to disintegrate when the going got tough.
Ardina, who earlier strung up impressive rounds of 68, 69, 69, also missed clinching the individual honors with a 277, losing by one to Loomboonruang, who had a 276.
Malaysia finished a far third at 877 after a 223 while Hong Kong wound up fourth with a 221 for an 880 followed by Singapore (215-883) and Indonesia (233-916).
Meanwhile, the Phl juniors team made a 234 and finished fourth in the Lion City Cup topped by Thailand, which had an 869 after a 220, beating Malaysia (220-872) by three. Indonesia placed third with an 888 after a 226 followed by Singapore (233-904) and Hong Kong (245-935).
Andres Saldaña’s 77 became the Phl’s best score as Gio Gandionco had a 78 and Rupert Zaragoza made a 79. Clyde Mondilla was out with an 80 in the event the Filipinos ruled in Malaysia last year.
The Putra Cup team of Zanie Boy Gialon (71), John Kier Abdon (75) and Art Arbole (75) wound up sixth in a field of seven, pooling a final round 221 for an 883, nipping Myanmar, which had an 885 after a 228.
Singapore held off Hong Kong, 216-218, to clinch the crown with an 846 with the hosts setting for runner-up with an 850. Indonesia placed third with an 860 after a 219 followed by Malaysia (220-862) and dethroned champion Thailand (221-880).(pr)

Dottie, Javyie hike Phl lead to 3

HONG KONG – Dottie Ardina shot a 68 and Jayvie Agojo bounced back with a 70 as the Philippines survived another backside meltdown with a 213 to pad its lead to three over Thailand in the third round of the Santi Cup of the Southeast Asia Amateur Golf Team Championships here, Thursday.
Andie Unson made a birdie-less 75, the same output put in by Dabawenya Chihiro Ikeda, who sputtered with a 39 at the back, including a final hole bogey, with one of those five-over cards counting for the team’s 213 and a 54-hole total of 629.
Thailand, two shots adrift at the start of the round, pressed its bid at the back despite falling farther behind by five after nine holes. But Pavarisa Yoktuan failed to match teammates Pinrath Loomboonruang and Panitta Yusabai’s solid finishes and ended up with a 38 for a 74.
Loomboonruang rebounded from a triple-bogey 8 on No. 2 with five birdies in the last 14 holes, finishing with a 68 and preserving a one-stroke lead (204) over Ardina (205) in the individual race. Yusabai fought back from a 39 with a 33 for a 72 while Yoktuan counted despite a 74 for Thailand’s 214 and 632.
“Chihiro simply lost her focus at the back, missing a lot of putts but Dottie remains as solid as ever. Jayvie also made a good account of herself after two poor rounds while I hope Andie to bounce back tomorrow (Friday),” said national team and ICTSI golf squad coach Bong Lopez.
The ICTSI-backed ladies team, whose campaign along with the men’s and junior squads, is sanctioned by the National Golf Association of the Phils. and supported by ICTSI and the Philippine Sports Commission, gained three more strokes over Thailand at the turn with an even-par aggregate as Ardina made a 33 and Agojo and Ikeda shot 36s. Unson made a 37.
But Ikeda made three straight bogeys from No. 11 and Unson bogeyed three of the first four holes. Agojo hit a birdie on No. 14 and parred the last four holes for a 70 while Ardina bogeyed No. 13 but birdie the 16th to preserve a two-under round.
 “This is very interesting. I missed a couple of birdie putts and made some poor shots but overall, it’s another good round,” said Ardina in Filipino.
Malaysia improved to third but stood too far behind at 654 after a 212, making the final round a shootout between the Filipinas and the Thais. Hong Kong slid to fourth with a 659 after a 229 followed by Singapore (223-668) and Indonesia (226-683).
Meanwhile, the national junior team moved one rung up to fourth with a 222 for a 667 but virtually yielded the Santi Cup crown as it remained 18 strokes behind Thailand.
The Putra Cup team, on the other hand, remained in the cellar with a 662 after a 219 although it closed within Thailand, which has a 659 after a 222, in a surprise duel of the region’s top teams at the tailend of the seven-team field with Myanmar barely ahead of the duo with a 657 after a 223.
Singapore unleashed a fiery third round charge as four players broke par with Jerome Ng’s 69 failing to count. Marc Ong led the attack with a 66, Tze Huang Choo shot a 67 and Gregory Foo carded a 68 for a nine-under 201 and a 54-hole aggregate of 630 as the Singaporeans grabbed a two-shot lead over halfway leader Hong Kong, who slid to second with a 632 despite a solid two-under 208.
Indonesia was far behind in third with a 641 after a 216 while Malaysia lay just a stroke behind at 642 after a 215.
Lloyd Go, a revelation from Cebu, matched par 70 to emerge the top scorer for the men’s team with Zanie Boy Gialon and Art Arbole adding 74 and 75, respectively, and John Kier Abdon out for the third straight time with a 78.
Andres Saldaña, meanwhile, led the juniors squad with a 73, Gio Gandionco made a 74 and either Rupert Zaragoza or Clyde Mondilla’s 75 counted for the team’s 222 and a 667.
The defending champion got past Singapore (229-671) and Hong Kong (231-693) but was too way behind Thailand, which braced for a final round shootout with Malaysia with a 649 after a 220. The Malaysians rallied with a 213 to move within three at 652. Indonesia is in third with a 662 after a 223.(pr)

Phl flounders, tumbles to fifth in Lion City Cup

HONG KONG – The defending champion Philippine junior team yielded to poor form and limped home with a horrible 17-over 227 as it fell by 16 shots behind a steady Thailand crew halfway through the Lion City Cup of the Southeast Asian Amateur Golf Team Championships here yesterday.
Gio Gandionco, who made a 73 in Tuesday’s opener, had a rollercoaster round at the up-and-down Clearwater Bay Golf and Country Club course, making three birdies, three bogeys and two double bogeys for a four-over 74, the best score in a day of floundering fortunes for the souped-up squad.
Rupert Zaragoza, the reigning national junior and men’s champion, failed to get going after dropping two strokes on No. 12, hitting just one birdie against four more bogeys for a 75 after a 74, while Andres Saldaña, who didn’t count with a 79 Tuesday, made five bogeys and two double bogeys against a lone birdie for a 78 that still counted for the team.
Clyde Mondilla, the best scorer in the first round with a 71, stumbled with a bogey and a double bogey in the first five holes at the back then made a 9 at the par-5 15th for a 42 then fumbled with another double bogey and a bogey against a birdie for a 37 and a 79.
It was a sorry round indeed for the Filipino junior players, who started the day just three behind the Thais after a decent 218 but will start today’s third round 16 strokes behind with a 445 aggregate and in fifth place in a field of six.
Led by reigning Vietnam Amateur Open champion Chanchok Dejpiratanamongkol and last year’s Thai Junior champion Pariwat Pinsawat’s 71s and Somprad Rattansuwan’s 72, Thailand pooled a 214 for a 429 and posted a 10-shot lead over new pursuers Indonesia, which assembled a 439, and Malaysia, which shot the day’s best output of 213, for 439s.
Singapore also bounced back from a 227 with a 215 to move up to fourth at 442, relegating the Philippines, which beat Thailand by four to win last year’s crown in Malaysia, to second-to-last.
Hong Kong even bettered the Phl’s second day effort with a 225 but remained in last at 462.
Meanwhile, the Santi Cup team of Dottie Ardina, Chihiro Ikeda, Andie Unson and Jayvie Agojo, and the Putra Cup squad of John Kier Abdon, Art Arbole, Zanie Boy Gialon and Lloyd Go were still playing at presstime.
Ikeda, the reigning Philippine Ladies Open champion, fired a three-under 32 after nine holes while Ardina, the top scorer in the first round with a 68, had an even par card while Unson had a one-over for the ICTSI-backed ladies team, which led Thailand by three after 18 holes.
The Putra Cup team, dead last after the first round of the Putra Cup, remained in the cellar at 443 after a 222 as Zanie Boy Gialon hit a 71, Lloyd Go groped with a 75 and Art Arbole made a 76. They stood 19 shots off new leader Hong Kong, which fired a 207 for a 424, one ahead of erstwhile leader Indonesia, which shot a 215 for a 425.
Malaysia moved up to third with a 427 after a 208 while Singapore dropped to fourth at 429 after a 214 followed by Myanmar (215-434) and defending champion Thailand (219-439).
The three-team Phl contingent’s campaign in the event is sanctioned by the National Golf Association of the Phils. and supported by ICTSI and the Philippine Sports Commission. The coaches are Carito Villaroman (men’s), Bong Lopez (ladies) and Boyet Zaragoza (juniors) with NGAP’s head for golf development Tommy Manotoc as head of delegation.(pr)

Phl ladies eye breakthru in Santi Cup

Dottie Ardina and Dabawenya Chihiro Ikeda hope to dish out the game expected of them as the Philippines takes another crack at the Santi Cup, one of the three titles to be disputed in the Putra Cup, which gets going Monday at the Clearwater Bay Golf and Country Club in Hong Kong.
Foiled in the first two editions of the event by the Thais, the Filipina golfers go all out this time with a strong roster that includes the two other spearheads of the ICTSI golf program – Andrea Unson and Jayvie Agojo.
The Phl ladies lost to the Thais by 11 strokes last year but are primed up for this week’s battle with ICTSI coach Bong Lopez expecting an explosive start for his star-studded crew.
“With their form and experience, I think we have a pretty good chance this year,” said Lopez.
Ikeda, the reigning Philippine Ladies Open champion, is coming off a victory in the Thailand Open and Selangor Open recently while Ardina, winner of this year’s Queen Sirikit individual crown, also ruled the recent San Diego Masters and made the finals of the US Girls Open.
Unson, on the other hand, is the reigning Philippine Amateur champion, while Agojo is the former Philippine Ladies Open champion who also won the New Zealand foursomes with Sarah Ababa.
The men's team, composed of Zanie Boy Gialon, Art Arbole, John Kier Abdon and LJ Go, also tries to end Thailand's domination of the Putra Cup, also known as the Southeast Asian Amateur Golf Team Championship. The Phl has not won the title since 1996 in Myanmar.
But focus will be on the junior squad, which sets out for a second straight championship in the Lion City Cup.
Led by Jobim Caros, the Phl held off Thailand's final round charge to win by four in Malaysia last year in a victory that made up for the men's and ladies squads' runner-up finishes in their respective events.
Reigning national champion Rupert Zaragoza will spearhead the squad this time in lieu of Carlos with support to come from former national titlist and last year's members Clyde Mondilla and Andres Saldana and Gio Gandiongco.
The delegation, headed by Tommy Manotoc and coaches Carito Villaroman (men's) and Boyet Zaragoza (juniors) left yesterday with the teams hoping to get at least two practice rounds at the tough layout.
The Phl contingent’s stint is sanctioned by the National Golf Association of the Phils. with NGAP president Leandro Mendoza expressing confidence of each team’s title chances in the four-to-play, three-to-count format event spread over four days.(pr)

Davao's Ikeda, 3 others advance; Ardina, Agojo out

Chihiro Ikeda matched par 71 and safely made it to the match play phase of the US Women's Amateur Championship at the Rhode Island Country Club in Rhode Island Monday.
Cyna Rodriguez, Andie Unson and Sarah Ababa, another Dabawenya, also advanced to the knockout stage of the premier event but Dottie Ardina and Jayvie Agojo failed to make the 64-player cut with a pair of three-over 74s.
Ikeda, the reigning Philippine Ladies Open champion and spearhead of the ICTSI-backed squad, hit two birdies against the same number of bogeys to emerge the top Filipina finisher at joint 18th with Unson with a 143.
But the reigning Thailand, Johor and Royal Selangor Open champion drew Ababa as her first round opponent in match play Wednesday.
Ababa shot a second straight 73 for a 146.
Unson, who with Rodriguez turned in similar 70s in the first round of the 36-hole stroke play elims among 156 entries, slowed down with a 73 and set up a duel with Julie Yang.
Rodriguez, on the other hand, carded a 74 and wound up joint 27th. She faces Amy Anderson in the first round of the knockout stage.
Ji Hee Kim of Korea shot a one-under 70 to win the low medal honors with a 136, nipping New Zealand’s Lydia Ko, who sizzled with a 66, in the countback.
Ardina, meanwhile, failed to recover from a first round score of 77, finishing with a 151 after a 74, for a share of 80th, while Agojo ended up joint 69th after a 74 and a 150.(PR)

Cyna, Unson card 70s; Dabawenyas struggle

Cyna Rodriguez and Andie Unson shot identical one-under 70s to trail Korean Jihee Kim by four at the start of the 36-hole stroke play qualifier of the US Women’s Amateur Championship at the Rhode Island Country Club in Rhode Island Monday.
Rodriguez, the former Philippine Ladies Open champion, hit three birdies to negate a two-bogey mishap for a 35-35 round at the par-71 layout as she joined seven others in sixth place.
That includes ICTSI teammate Unson, the reigning Philippine Amateur Open champion, who missed closing in on Kim with a shaky finish, bogeying two of the last three holes at the back for a 33-37 card.
Dabawenya Chihiro Ikeda fought back from an awful start of 39 with back-to-back birdies from No. 15 as she salvaged a one-over 72 for a share of 27th place among 156 starters chasing 64 slots in the match play phase.
Sarah Ababa, another Dabawenya, made two birdies but fumbled with four bogeys as she dropped to joint 45th at 73, still within the cutoff line heading to the final round of the elims.
But Dottie Ardina, coming off a pair of runner-up finishes in the US Girls Championships and the Optimist International, groped for form with a 77 and in danger of missing the cut as she stood way below in joint 94th.
She failed to recover from a three-bogey string from No. 1, dropping four more strokes on Nos. 7, 8, 11 and 18 against a lone birdie on No. 10.
Jayvie Agojo, another former Phl Ladies Open champion, also sputtered with a 76 for a share of 84th, her round marred by six bogeys against one birdie.
“It’s a mixed result but I’m confident Dottie and Jayvie will be able to bounce back. They struggled with their putting, missing some close par putts,” said ICTSI team coach Bong Lopez.
Kim hit eight birdies in an awesome display of shotmaking, finishing with a five-under 66 for a two-shot lead over China’s Xi Yu Lin and Mariel Galdiano of Hawaii, who both had 68s, while Doris Chen of Florida and Pamela Pretswell of Scotland made identical 68s for fourth.(pr)

Ardina, Davao's Ikeda upbeat of US Am bid

Dottie Ardina and Davao City native Chihiro Ikeda head the six-player ICTSI-Philippines roster vying in this year’s US Women’s Amateur Championship, hopeful of their chances against the world’s leading players in the event firing off Aug. 8 in Rhode Island.
The team, which also includes former Philippine Ladies Open champions Jayvie Agojo and Cyna Rodriguez, Andie Unson and Dabawenya Sarah Ababa, found the par-71 Rhode Island Country Club layout tough when it had its first practice round Saturday but remained upbeat two days before the event.
“The course has been set up like in a US Open event with thick roughs and sleek putting surface,” said ICTSI team coach Bong Lopez. “But the team is ready and in high spirits.”
The ICTSI-backed Filipinas spent the whole of Sunday at the range, hitting at varied distances.
“Driving will be the key, they must put their ball on the fairway to have any chance of reaching the green in regulation,” added Lopez.
No Filipina has ever come close to a title shot since former national team mainstay Dorothy Delasin won in 1999 at the Biltmore Forest Country Club in North Carolina with Rodriguez dropping out of the Last 16 stage in 2009.
A total of 156 players vie in the 36-hole stroke play competition with the top 64 advancing to the match play phase.
Ardina, the reigning Queen Sirikit Cup individual champion, has been seeded into the event with a runner-up finish in the recent US Girls Am. She also placed second in the Optimist International last month.
The rest earned their seats through qualifiers with Ikeda, the reigning Philippines Ladies Open champion, making it in York, Pennsylvania, Rodriguez and Agojo in Denver, Unson in California and Ababa in Hawaii.(pr)

Members of the ICTSI-Team Phl (from left) Andie Unson, Jayvie Agojo, Dottie Ardina, Cyna Rodriguez, Sarah Ababa and Chihiro Ikeda pose during a break in practice for the US Women’s Amateur Championship.

Guioguio holds off Ikeda, bags Sarawak plum

Lovelynn Guioguio finally nailed the big one, beating fancied ICTSI teammate

Chihiro Ikeda by three shots despite a closing two-over 74 to capture the

Sarawak Amateur Open crown at the the Sarawak Golf Club Resort in Malaysia

Sunday.

Guioguio nearly lost a five-shot lead as she lost her rhythm off the tee with

two water-laced drives, enabling Ikeda to close to within one with five holes to

go. But she gained a decisive three-shot swing with a birdie on No. 14 which

Ikeda double-bogeyed from an errant drive and cruised to victory with a 220

aggregate.

“Iplayed tough and hung in there,” said Guioguio, who also came through with a

couple of clutch par-saving putts on Nos. 16 and 17 to hold off the charging

Ikeda and secure her first international victory.

The Fil-Japanese, the reigning Philippine Ladies Open and Thailand Ladies Open

champion, wound up with an even par 72 for a 223 while Jayvie Agojo failed to

sustain a solid 35 with a 40 and finished with a 75.

The former Phil Ladies Open winner, however, completed the ICTSI-backed bets’

domination of the event as she ended up tied for third at 227 with Malaysian Nur

Durriyay, who carded a 74.

“Lovelynn showed a big fighting heart and was able to check her skid. This win

should further boost her confidence heading to this week’s Malaysian Amateur,”

said ICTSI team coach Bong Lopez.

Sarah Ababa made a second straight 77 and wound up with a 234 while Sunshine

Baraquiel had an 82 for a 242.

Guioguio birdied No. 9 from five feet to save a 36 and keep a four-shot lead at

the turn as Ikeda shot a 35 with birdies on Nos. 3 and 4 against a bogey on the

second. But she hit wayward shots off the mound on Nos. 12 and 13, resulting to

bogeys and allowing Ikeda to close to within one.

But Ikeda pushed her drive into the water hazard on No. 14 and ended up with a

double-bogey, blowing her bid for another title abroad. PR

Another jewel for the Dabawenya shotmaker

Dabawenya Chihiro Ikeda added the Johor Amateur Open crown to her growing list of
victories this year, outlasting ICTSI teammate Jayvie Agojo in a final day
showdown under brutal condition at the Johor Golf Club in Malaysia Saturday.
Ikeda, tied with Agojo and just one stroke ahead of local bet Nur Durriyay at
the start of the final round, fumbled with a four-over 76 but still won by five
shots as the rest struggled on the long layout made more daunting by the testy
pin placements.
Ikeda, Agojo and a couple of others had four putts each to typify the field’s
ordeal as organizers moved the tee boxes farther and strategically placed the
pins barely 2-3 paces in front, forcing the players to go for position on the
green on their approach shots.
In fact, the Filipinos bets had deliberately played it short to get a chance for
an up-and-down rather than putt from above the hole.
But Ikeda proved up to the task, pouncing on Agojo’s foldup midway through while
hitting her lone birdie on on No. 3 against three bogeys and a double-bogey from
a four-putt miscue. Counting her earlier 75 and 71 rounds, the SEA Games gold
medalist pooled a 222 and added the title to her trophy cabinet that included
the Philippine Ladies and the Southern Ladies and the Thailand Amateur Open
titles this year.
Agojo, who teamed up with Sarah Ababa to win the New Zealand Foursomes crown
recently, never recovered from a string of missed green bogeys on Nos. 4, 7 and
9 and a four-putt double bogey on No. 8 as she dropped four more shots at the
back for a birdie-less 81 and a 227.
“It was close in the early going but Jayvie was never the same after she
four-putted No. 8 from 15 feet as she bogeyed the next four and trailed by five
from there,” said ICTSI coach Bong Lopez.

With Durriyay hobbling with an 84 and slipping to fourth at 231, Vivian Chin,
also of Malaysia, shot the day’s best score of even par 72, snatching third
place honors with a 230.PR

NZ ace foils Dabawenya in semis

Top seed and New Zealand champion Lydia Ko outshot and outplayed Dabawenya Chihiro Ikeda
in tough, cold condition and ran away with a 7&6 rout to reach the finals of the
New Zealand Women’s Amateur in Christchurch Monday.

Ko, who dominated the 72-hole stroke play tournament last week, remained on
track of a double championship as she dominated the Fil-Japanese bet in the
early going en route to victory.


The 14-year-old find, the world No. 3 in the ranks, will dispute the crown with
compatriot Cecilia Cho, who also routed Caryn Khoo, 5&4, in the other semifinal
match.

Ikeda, 18, struggled for form in 7 degrees Celsius condition with intermittent
rain and never recovered from a poor start, settling for joint third place
finish with Khoo.

“The conditions were tough and some holes have difficult pin placements that it
was hard to get your shots to stop next to them,” said Ikeda.

It was a sorry setback for the ICTSI-backed squad, which sent three players in
the quarterfinals with Jayvie Agojo and Lovelynn Guioguio bowing out and Ikeda
hurdling Julianne Alvarez, 4&3.PR

Davao's Ikeda rips foe, reaches semis

Dabawenya Chihiro Ikeda knocked off fourth seed Julianne Alvarez with an emphatic 4&3
victory to arrange a semifinal showdown with top seed Lydia Ko in the 2011 New
Zealand Women's Amateur Golf Championship Match Play in Christchurch, New
Zealand Sunday.
Ikeda, reaching peak form, gunned down two birdies and rescued pars twice at the
Russley Golf Club to dominate Alvarez in their morning showdown for a spot in
the Last 4 of the tournament featuring the leading players in the Asia-Pacific
region.
But the Fil-Japanese spearhead of the ICTSI golf squad will be facing the most
feared player in the fold, who foiled what could’ve been an all-Pinay semis with
a 4&2 romp over Lovelynn Guioguio.
Ikeda, however, hopes to use her experience against the talented 14-year-old Ko,
the reigning NZ amateur champion who topped the 72-hole stroke play competition
last week.
No. 6 Caryn Khoo, meanwhile, upset third seed Jayvie Agojo in the lower half of
the draw, outlasting the former Philippine Ladies Open champion on the 20th hole
to clinch the other semis berth.
Second seed Cecilia Cho held off Laura Hoskin, 2&1, to set up a clash with Cho
for the other finals seat.
It was a heartbreaking setback for Agojo, who had hoped to stay on track for a
golden double after teaming up with Sarah Ababa to win the NZ Foursomes crown
last week.
But the fifth-seed Ikeda, winner of this year’s Phl Ladies Amateur Open and the
Thailand Ladies Am titles, remains hopeful of her chances as she tries to
sustain her 7&6 romp over Grace Senior in the first round a 3&2 win over Kate
Chadwik in the last 16 phase.PR

Pinays barge into NZ match play quarters

Jayvie Agojo, Lovelynn Guioguio and Chihiro Ikeda each posted back-to-back victories Saturday to roll into the quarterfinal round of the match play event of the 2011 New Zealand Women's Amateur Golf Championship in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Agojo, seeking a followup to her victory in last week’s NZ Foursomes with ICTSI teammate Sarah Ababa, needed an extra hole to nip Hanna Seifert, 1-up, in the first round of the knockout phase then clobbered Jaime McIvor, 5&3, in the second round to make it to the Last 8.

Guioguio also edged Emily Eng, 1-up, in the morning match then dominated Saini Skudder, 5&4, in the afternoon to arrange a quarterfinal showdown with world No. 2 and stroke play champion Lydia Ko.

Ikeda, chasing another crown after winning the Philippine Ladies Amateur and the Southern Ladies Open crowns, routed Grace Senior, 7&6, in the first round then fashioned out a 3&2 romp over Kate Chadwik in the last 16 phase.

“After scoring two wins in the day, the girls are excited of their chances. They are in high spirits and oozing with confidence. I just hope they will sustain their form in the quarters,” said ICTSI team coach Bong Lopez.

The Fil-Japanese spearhead of the ICTSI golf squad will play Julianne Alvarez for a berth in the semifinal round of NZ’s premier amateur championship. Alvarez ripped Brianna Maynard, 4&3, then whipped Ceyln Khoo, 7&6, in the second round.

Agojo, who placed third in the stroke play event, battles Caryn Khoo in the lower bracket after the latter beat Jesse Hamilton, 3&2.

Ababa, however, fell by the wayside in the KO stage first round, dropping a close 1-up decision to Laura Hoskin, who went on to defeat Jess Guenzerodt, 1-up, to reach the quarters against second seed Cecilia Cho, who bundled out Imogen Donnelly, 6&5, and Emily Perry, 4&3, in their side of the duel.PR

Ardina romps off with 7-shot win

Dottie Ardina capped another successful week by Filipino golfers in Thailand, closing out with a three-under 70 and posting a seven-stroke romp over ICTSI teammate Andrea Unson in the True Visions-Singha International Junior Golf Championship in Thailand Thursday.
Ardina turned up the heat midway in the final round at the par-73 Royal Green Valley Golf Club in Rayong, hitting five birdies in an 11-hole stretch as she turned a two-over card into a three-under total to dominate the premier Division A (15-20 years old) field.
Counting his early 73-76 rounds, Ardina pooled a 219 while Unson closed out with a two-over 75 and finished second with a 226, completing another 1-2 finish by the Phl bets one week after Dabawenya Chihiro Ikeda nipped Ardina and Lovelynn Guioguio for the Thailand Ladies Open last week.
First day leader Xiyu Lin of China failed to recover from a second round 84 with a 74 as she settled for third with a 230 while Thai Nattapun Siritrai made a 78 for fourth at 236 and another local bet Chayanid Prapassarangkul placed fifth with a 237 after a 74.
“Dottie had a slow start but she turned it up midway. Her yardage control was really good and she putted well,” said JR Tanpinco, assistant coach of the ICTSI golf squad.
Daniella Uy, however, failed to make it a sweep for the Phl bets as she settled for second in Division B (13-14) with a 74 and a 227, seven shots behind Benyapa Niphatsophon of Thailand, who fired a one-under 72 for a 220.PR

Davao City's Ikeda nips Guioguio for Thai Ladies plum

Davao City's pride and ICTSI's best.

Davao City's Chihiro Ikeda rallied from four shots down with two birdies in the last six holes then pounced on ICTSI teammate Lovelynn Guioguio’s triple-bogey mishap on the final hole to snatch a one-stroke victory in the Thailand Ladies Open at Bangkok Golf Club in Thailand Friday.

Ikeda also holed out with a bogey on the tough par-4 closing hole but her one-under 71 was enough to propel her to the win as she pooled a 54-hole aggregate of 214, adding the crown to her long list of victories that included a SEA Games gold medal and the Philippine Ladies Open crown last January.

Dottie Ardina, recent winner of the Queen Sirikit Cup individual title, fired a 70 and edged Guioguio in the countback for runner-up honors at 215. The second round leader hobbled home with a 73, blowing away her title bid with that final-hole meltdown.

“It’s nice to win again. I just stayed focused and never lost hope even if I fell behind by as many as four strokes at the back. I just kept on going,” said Ikeda.

Guioguio also kept going, even hiking her overnight one-shot lead to four after Ikeda three-putted No. 12 for double-bogey. But Guioguio dropped a stroke on the next hole which Ikeda birdied for a two-shot swing then yielded another stroke when she bogeyed No. 16 after missing the green.

Still, Guioguio took a one-shot lead heading to the 18th after both players birdied the 17th but she pulled her 3-wood tee shot into the water hazard and dumped her third shot into the greenside bunker, giving Ikeda the chance to steal the win.

The Fil-Japanese shotmaker reached the green in regulation but three-putted from 25 feet then watched Guioguio blow it all with a flubbed double-bogey putt from just about three-feet.

“It was a big win for Chihiro, who didn’t give up until the final hole. She was really determined to win this one even when she fell behind by four,” said ICTSI team coach Bong Lopez.

Jayvie Agojo shot the day’s best score of four-under 68 as she took fourth place at 216 and capped the Filipina bets’ domination of the event. Thai Pinrath matched par 72 for fifth at 218 in a tie with Andie Unson, who had a 73.PR

Guioguio wrests 1-shot lead over Ikeda

Lovelyn Guioguio matched par 72 in tough playing condition and snatched a one-stroke lead over ICTSI spearhead Chihiro Ikeda in the second round of the Thailand Ladies Open at Bangkok Golf Club in Thailand Thursday.
Guioguio blew a two-under card after three holes with a wet double-bogey on No. 9 then banged in a delicate eight-footer for par on No. 18 to save a 36-36 round for a 142, counting her 70 in the first round of the 54-hole tournament.
Flawless with a 67 Wednesday, Ikeda turned in a flawed finish of 7 at the par-4 18th for a four-over 76, blowing an overnight three-shot lead and dropping to second at 143, one stroke behind Guioguio.
Andie Unson and Dottie Ardina also struggled with a 74 and 75, respectively, as they tied for third at 145 with Thai bet Savitree Thavong, who fired the day’s best score of two-under 70.
Jayvie Agojo carded a second straight 74 for a 148 while Daniella Uy also shot a 74 for a 154.
“While Ikeda struggled with her iron play in windy condition, Guioguio played just as steady except for her double-bogey mishap on No. 9,” said ICTSI team coach Bong Lopez, referring to the new leader’s third shot at the par-5 No. 9 which she dumped into the big hazard guarding the green.
Lopez also noted the tough pin placements with the flags hidden either in the corner or behind the bunkers and slopes, ensuring a thrilling finish in Thailand’s premier amateur championship.
The Phl bets, meanwhile swept the team competition with ICTSI/Phl I side of Ikeda, Ardina and Agojo combining for a 149 and a 286 for a two-shot victory over ICTSI/Phl 2 team of Guioguio, Unson and Uy, which had a 289 after a 146.PR

Davao's Ikeda, Phl bets dominate Thai Open

Davao's Chihiro Ikeda fired an eagle-spiked, bogey-free five-under 67 to post a three-shot lead over ICTSI teammates Lovelyn Guioguio and Dottie Ardina as the Filipinas dominated the first round action in the Thailand Ladies Open in Bangkok Wednesday.
Ikeda, the reigning SEA Games individual winner, used the 3-wood to keep the ball in play at the tight fairways of Bangkok Golf Club then came through with superb iron shots that set up birdies on Nos. 7, 11 and 15 inside 14 feet.
She then knocked down a 5-iron second shot from 170 yards to within five feet for eagle on the par-5 17th, capping her flawless 35-32 card for the lead in the 54-hole tournament.
“Chihiro played it according to plan, staying out of trouble with her 3-wood off the tee. The course isn’t playing long with hardened fairways but the problem is the rough on both sides of the fairway, so you have to keep the ball in play,” said ICTSI team mentor Bong Lopez.
Three shots off the pace was Guioguio, who bounced back from a two-over card in the early going with two birdies before matching Ikeda’s eagle on the reachable No. 17 for that 70.
Ardina, coming off a gold medal win in the individual side of the recent Queen Sirikit Cup, missed closing in on Ikeda with a couple of missed putts from six feet although she banged in an eight-footer for par on the 18th to save a round of 37-33.
Andie Unson shot a 71, Indonesia’s Jurian matched par 72 while Pinrath carded a 74 to emerge the top Thai scorer in a tie with Jayvie Agojo.
The Filipinas, whose campaign is sponsored by ICTSI, also lorded it over the field in team play as Phl Team 1, composed of Ikeda, Ardina and Agojo, pooled a seven-under 137 to lead Phl Team 2 of Guioguio, Unson and Daniella Uy by four. Thailand hobbled with a 149 as Dolnapa and Jupaporn settled for identical 75s, one of which counted in the three-to-play, two-to-count team event.PR

Ardina bags title; Phl 2nd in Sirikit Cup

Dottie Ardina

Dottie Ardina used a strong start and a solid finish to fire a two-under 70 and turn back world No. 1 Hyo Joo Kim to snatch the individual crown in the 33rd Queen Sirikit Cup at the Delhi Golf Club in New Delhi, India Friday.

The Philippines settled for runner-up finish to South Korea, which cruised to its fifth straight victory in team play. But Ardina stunned the field with her awesome game, finishing with a 211 and nipping the fancied Hyo by one in their battle for the individual crown.

“I really wanted to win that’s why I gave it my best shot,” said Ardina, who overcame a three-stroke deficit to beat Korea’s top player. “It’s just too bad that we fell short of our title drive in team play.”

But her victory more than made up for that failed team title bid as Ardina, a many-time Junior World champion, proved her worth and showed she can beat even the best player in world.

With ICTSI teammate Chihiro Ikeda of Davao City bouncing back with a 71 after a 78 in the second round, the Philippines closed out with a second straight 141 and a 429, four shots off Korea’s 425 aggregate in the 54-hole tournament among the leading teams in the Asia-Pacific region.

Jayvie Agojo, who counted for the team with a 71 in the second round, had a 74 and didn’t count for the squad, whose campaign was sanctioned by the Women’s Golf Association of the Phils. and sponsored by the International Container Terminal Services, Inc.

Hyo, who routed the field last year in New Zealand and the reigning World Amateur individual champion, cracked under pressure from Ardina and hobbled with a 74 for the team’s 143 output.

“The girls played very good today. They held their ground and bucked the pressure of playing with the fancied Koreans for the third straight day,” said national team coach and ICTSI mentor Bong Lopez.

“But it was a big win and a big boost for Dottie. By beating the world No. 1, I’m sure she’ll be winning big tournaments again,” said Lopez, whose wards also posted the country’s best finish at No. 8 in the World Amateurs last year while re-staking their claim as the top ladies team in Southeast Asia.

Ardina, 17, birdied the first three holes in impressive fashion to catch up with Hyo but dropped a shot on No. 4 and made the turn at 34. She three-putted No. 11 for another bogey and dropped two shots on the long par-3 12th when she pulled her 4-iron tee shot in the bushes.

But the veteran internationalist bounced back with birdies on Nos. 13 and 14 inside five feet and took a one-shot lead over the Korean ace heading to the par-5 18th. Hyo reached the green in two but flubbed an 18-foot eagle putt while Ardina laid it up and pitched to within five feet to match her rival’s birdie for the win.(pr)

Dabawenya, RP golfers open bid in Q Sirikit Cup

Chihiro Ikeda of Davao City.

Chihiro Ikeda and Dottie Ardina hope to provide the experience and poise as they lead the Philippines against a crack field clashing for top honors in the 33nd Queen Sirikit Cup which got under way Wednesday at the Delhi Golf Club in New Delhi, India.
Ikeda, the reigning SEA Games individual gold medalist and winner of the recent Southern Ladies Open from Davao City, is making her fourth straight appearance in the annual event also known as the Asia-Pacific Golf Team Championship.
Ardina is back with the national squad, hopeful of a solid showing after fine-tuning her swing while former Phl Ladies Open winner Jayvie Agojo will be the Phl’s third player in the three-to-play, two-to-count format event featuring the leading teams in the Asia-Pacific region.
Lovelynn Guioguio, who ruled the WWW-DHL National Championship in Canlubang recently, is the team’s alternate.
The Filipina golfers, whose stint is sanctioned by WGAP (Women’s Golf Association of the Phils) and sponsored by ICTSI, had two practice rounds over the weekend, raring to make up for the team’s eighth place finish in New Zealand last year.
“This is probably one of the strongest teams we are fielding in this event and I am confident of a good showing," said national team coach Bong Lopez.
South Korea, which swept the team and individual honors last year, Australia, New Zealand, Chinese Taipei and host India have been tipped as the early favorites to vie for this year’s crown.
“The course is difficult with tight, hard fairways. If you miss the fairway, it’s an automatic lost ball since the shrubs lining up the fairway are so thick,” said Lopez, also the man at the helm of the ICTSI golf program. “They need to hit the fairways to score well although in some holes they would just need irons or rescue clubs to put the ball in position.”
He added that the putting surface is very undulating and fast and stressed the need for his wards to keep the ball in the proper side to set up birdie chances.
The Phl is pitted against Korea and China in the first round with Ikeda matching up with Korean national champion Ji Hee Kim at 7:30, Ardina with In Gee Chun and Xi YU at 7:40 a.m. and Agojo with Hyo Koo Kim, the defending individual champion, and Yan Jing at 7:50 a.m. (pr)

Wang keeps 4-shot lead; Guioguio up

Wang Jeung Hun fended off Clyde Mondilla's charge and matched the reigning national champion's three-under par 69 card Thursday, keeping his four-shot lead intact for a clear shot at the WWWExpress-DHL National Golf Championships crown at Canlubang's north course.
Like in the previous rounds, Wang played solid golf under ideal condition, setting up birdie chances with superb iron game and then sinking most of them with steady putting that put him way ahead of the field.
He made five birdies, including two at the back that negated his two late bogeys on Nos. 15 and 17, his second 69 giving him a 12-under 204 total and 18 holes away from claiming the crown he lost when he was disqualified in the final round last year.
Mondilla tried to press his bid with back-to-back birdies from No. 4 but reeled back with a bogey on No. 7. He birdied two of the next three holes but failed to get any closer when he flubbed a short birdie putt on No. 17 which Wang, spearhead of a crack Riviera squad, bogeyed.
Worse, Mondilla, playing out of Del Monte, overshot the 18th green and missed another short putt for par, settling for a 69 and a 208.
Zanie Boy Gialon bounced back from a 73 with a 70 but the ICTSI-The Country Club bet, who trailed Wang by just one in the first round, stood too far at 210, six strokes adrift, and would need a low round to at least earn a shot at the crown in the 16th staging of the annual event sponsored by WWWExpress and DHL headed by chair Rod V. Feliciano.
But a three-way battle for the ladies title loomed as Lovelynn Guioguio surged ahead with a 143 after a one-under 71, wresting a one-stroke lead over first round leader Sarah Ababa and a charging three-time defending champion Chihiro Ikeda heading into the final round of the 54-hole tournament hosted by Cangolf.
Meanwhile, the Phl squad of Miguel Tabuena, Jerson Balabas and Jobim Carlos pooled a 214 and won the third RVF Southeast Asian Cup men's team crown with a 420, beating the Wang-led Korea, which had a 422 after a 219 while Singapore placed third with a 436 after a 225.
Guioguio, chasing her first big crown in years, sizzled with four birdies against a bogey at the front but dropped three strokes in the last four holes, including a double-bogey mishap on the par-3 15th, for that 71.
Ababa, who showed up the fancied bets with a 70 in the first round, faltered with two 37s and limped with a 74, dropping to second with a 144, the same output put in by Ikeda, who matched Guioguio's one-under card.
Ikeda, eyeing a fourth straight championship in the event organized and conducted by the National Golf Association of the Phils., birdied the first two holes on each nine but had three bogeys and settled for a 71.
Andie Unson matched par 72 but stood four strokes off at 147 while Kim Bo Ah had a 148 after a 72 and Kim Hui Mang and Jayvie Agojo at 150 after a 74 and 76, respectively.
Reigning national champion Irina Gabasa and Dottie Ardina hobbled with 76 and 79, respectively, and were too far off at 151.
Carlos also lay way behind in the men's side despite a 69 as he totaled a 212 for joint fourth with Carl Ocampo, who had a 72, while Tabuena fumbled with a 73 for a 214, 10 shots off Wang.(pr)

Fiery Dabawenya rallies with 59 pts, wins by 4

Dabawenya Chihiro Ikeda fought back from four points down then sizzled with a birdie-binge at the backside to beat Jayvie Agojo by four points on a closing 59 and capture the Southern Ladies golf crown at the Bacolod Golf and Country Club, Saturday.
Ikeda cashed in on a three-shot swing on No. 10 to draw level, pounced on a three-putt bogey miscue by Agojo on No. 14 to seize control then drained three straight birdies from No. 15 to post the unexpected runaway victory.
The spearhead of the ICTSI golf squad closed out with 167 Molave points, including 53 and 55 in the first two rounds, adding the Southern Ladies title to her Philippine Ladies Open romp last month where she beat Dottie Ardina by six strokes at The Country Club.
Agojo, primed up for a big win from a long layoff after posting a four-point lead over Ikeda heading into the final round, kept a three-point lead after nine holes but blew it all when she nearly drove out of bounds on No. 10 and wound up with a double bogey.
She limped home with 51 points and a 163 in the three-day tournament organized and conducted by the National Golf Association of the Phils. and sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission, Kaiser International, Directories Phils. Corp (DPC) Yellow Pages, Hans Brumann Jeweler, WWWExpress, DHL Express and Business Inn, the official hotel.
“I just played my game and stayed relaxed despite down by four points,” said Ikeda, who birdied No. 10 from 20 feet and whose sizzling 59-point output was four-under 66 in stroke play. “I didn’t think I was behind and it’s a good think that my short game and putting clicked.”
So solid was Ikeda’s iron game and putting at the back, needing just five putts in the last four holes, three of which she birdied from superb approach shots.
The win was Ikeda’s second major early in the season and it somehow atoned for her missed cut stint in last week’s TCC Invitational with Andie Unson taking the low amateur honors over Agojo.
“Ikeda showed resiliency and composure in her victory. She knew she can come back no matter how big the deficit is,” said ICTSI coach and national women’s team coach Bong Lopez. “I just hope she continues to improve and polish her putting stroke.”
Unson placed third with a 162 after a 55 or one-under 69 while Sarah Ababa also shot 55 points and took fourth place with a 158.
Dottie Ardina, who edged Ikeda by one to win the crown in Iloilo last year, hobbled with 49 points for a 155.
Ikeda also led Agojo, Unson and Ardina to the team championship with 226 PAL Stableford points, beating Del Monte (229) and Bacolod (242).
The other division winners were Arianne Salvador of Valley Golf (Class A-137 points), Lilibeth De Villa of Tagaytay Highlands (Class B-104 points), Leni Cabili of Aguinaldo (Class C-104 points), Sol Antonio of Villamor (Class D-83 points) and Sonnie Montelibano of Bacolod (seniors-83 points).PR