Guioguio survives windy 1st round, leads PHL Amateur Open

CANLUBANG—Lovelyn Guioguio shot an even 72 on a windy Thursday to jumpstart her bid for a maiden crown in the ladies side of the Philippine Amateur Open Golf Championship at the Canlubang Golf Club in Laguna.  

The 23-year-old Bukidnon native was already at two-under after 16 holes but she signed in for a double bogey 7 on the par-5, No. 17 for that 72.

She holds a slim advantage over Dottie Ardina, who carded a two-over 74, good for second spot in the 54-hole championship organized by the National Golf Association of the Philippines (NGAP).

"I'm very lucky to come away with the lead. Every one got side-tracked by the strong winds. I've got to put in more effort to battle the windy condition at the North course,” she said.  

Ardina, who is aiming for the title—the only one missing in her amateur career, bogeyed Nos. 15 and 16 then muffed a birdie putt from three feet on No. 18.  

The reigning Queen Sirikit champion lost control of her putting, something which served her in good stead, especially in the recent Southeast Asian Games in Indonesia.  

"I kept missing easy putts, from inside four feet. There’s not much confidence today," she said.

Defending champion Andrea Unson also struggled carding a 75. Still, she remains in contention on her bid for a back-to-back victory.  

"I could not get my A-game going,” was Unson’s limited reply.

With Unson at third place were Sarah Ababa and pint-sized Princess Superal. Sunshine Baraquiel was at sixth with a 76 followed by the 78 each of Jayvie Agojo and Apple Fudolin of Bukidnon.

Viviene Chin of Singapore was the best placed foreigner at jointh 10th after an eight-over 80.

In the men's side, former national mainstays Jobim Carlos and Clyde Mondilla plus Singaporean Gregory Foo are locked atop the leaderboard with two-under 70 each.

Carlos, who played for the country in the 2011 SEA Games, was headed to a great round of two-under with four holes left. But just like every body else, the strong winds caught up with him that lead to bogeys on Nos. 16 and 17. He averted another dropped shot with a scrambling par on No. 18.  

"All I had to do was make pars. Now, it's a crowded top spot,” Carlos said. Leonard Lofranco came in at fourth with a 71 while junior golfers Andres Saldaña and Lawrence Celestino and Korean Choi Jae-seung were bunched at fifth with 72s.

 

Three shots down at 73 were Keanu Jahns, Miko Alejandro, Aristeo Mata, Gio Gandionco, Jerome Ng of Singapore and Korean Yoon Ji-woong. — JVP, GMA News