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Jayvie Agojo hopes to build some momentum with a strong start as she tries to atone for her poor finish at John Hay in the ICTSI Mt. Malarayat Ladies Classic, which unwraps Wednesday at the composite Mt. Malarayat Golf and Country Club in Lipa City, Batangas.
Agojo never recovered from a woeful 77 start at the short John Hay layout last July and struggled to finish sixth in the ICTSI CJH Ladies Invitational just one week after romping off with the ICTSI Riviera Ladies Classic for her first victory on the ICTSI Ladies Philippine Golf Tour.
But heading to Malarayat, Agojo is upbeat of her chances for the top P100,000 purse although she stressed the need for a big start in anticipation of a shootout among the circuit’s top guns, led by reigning Order of Merit champion and two-leg winner Cyna Rodriguez and Chihiro Ikeda.
“I’m currently working on my balance and timing which coach Bong (Lopez) said will be the key to my title drive,” said Agojo, who honed up for the 54-hole tournament sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc. by competing in a Taiwan tournament last week.
But the former Philippine Ladies Open champion and winner of another pro crown in Thailand last year will be in for a tough outing with the in-form Rodriguez, who ruled the kickoff leg at Orchard and John Hay, raring to nail another win and firm up her bid for a back-to-back OOM title in the country’s premier ladies pro tour organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.
Ikeda is also tipped to contend for the title with the former SEA Games individual gold medalist seeking to nail her breakthrough victory on the circuit after a couple of near-misses along with the likes of Lovelynn Guioguio, Sarah Jane Ababa, Lina de Guzman, Apple Fudolin, Eva Miñoza and Lucy Landicho.
Korean Kwon Seo Yon, who placed fourth at Riviera, is also in the fold along with Majorie Pulumbarit, Jan Punzalan, Anya Tanpinco, Sylvia Torres and Tracy Que.
Thai Amolkan Phalajivin, who finished second to Rodriguez at John Hay, is the other player to watch in the tournament backed by Nike, Pacsports, Custom Clubmakers and Sharp along with Mary Grace Estuesta and Heidi Chua, two former Phl Ladies Open winners.
Amateurs Angela de Villa and Choi Yeon Hwa of South Korea have also signed up for the event serving as the fourth leg of an eight-stage P4 million circuit.
