Golf: East course's wicked winds punish PHL Ladies Open bets

A grueling day at the East course that sent scores reeling down marked the first round of the 50th Philippine Ladies Open held at the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club.  

Korean Lee Jeong-hwa's two-over-par 74 proved to be the best output in a punishing opener, spiked by the late afternoon winds and several tough pin placements. Jayvie Agojo, the 2005 Open winner, checked in at solo second place a shot back from Lee. "It was good that I'm only down by one against Lee. I need to improve on some aspects of my shot-making. I want to head into the finale with the lead," said Agojo.  

Agojo, who is chasing her second Open plum, groped for form early that resulted in bogeys on the first two holes. She rebounded with birdies on the 9th and 11th then limped again with three straight bogeys from the 12th to 14th that sandwiched a birdie on the 15th.  

"Chances for birdies came in trickles because several pin placements made the feat more difficult. I also need to adjust on these situations. I have to move up on Thursday," she said.  

The other top bets, likewise, faltered against the vaunted East sting.  

Andrea Unson, Princess Superal and Bianca Pagdanganan share fourth place with four-over 76s. Four players, including Sunshine Baraquel, Claire Legaspi and Thailand's Yupaporn Kawinpakorn and Savitree Thavong were  bunched up at fifth spot with 78 each.

Lovelyn Guioguio, the PHL Amateur Open titlist, squandered a four-over card in the last hole, where she went from bunker to bunker on the approach then completed the misadventure with two putts for a triple bogey 7 for a 79.  

"The ball kept rolling into the other bunker," she said.  

At 79 apiece were Sarah Jane Ababa, Felicia Medalla and Thai junior golfer Pathamaporn Ariyamatepreecha.  Dottie Ardina submitted an 80 in the company of former national team mainstay Regina de Guzman.  

A total of 29 out of the 97 participants made it to the Championship Division of the 54-hole event by the Women’s Golf Association of the Philippines (WGAP). The rest were divided into Classes A and B, according to scores. — JVP, GMA News