MANILA, Philippines - Miya Legaspi matched par 72 at the Rancho Palos Verdes Golf and Country Club worth 54 PAL points as she powered Manila Southwoods-Masters to a 154 total and a four-point lead over Del Monte at the start of the Philippine Airlines (PAL) Ladies Interclub revival in Davao yesterday.
Legaspi, only the third player to score five straight victories in the US Kids World Golf Championships, hit five birdies against the same number of bogeys for a 36-36 card while reigning Hong Kong Amateur Open champion Jayvie Agojo shot 52 and Lora Roberto added a 48 for that 154.
The Carmona-based Southwoods, skippered by Beachie Abiera, actually saw action with just three players in the four-to-play, three-to-count format as Claire Ong failed to make it in time.
Del Monte, drawing a day-best score of 58 points from Lovelynn Guioguio, pooled a 150 as Apple Fudolin struggled with a 48 and Kristine Leonen added a 44. Taj Tabanas did not count with a 39.
“We hope to give Southwoods an even better fight tomorrow,” said Del Monte skipper Maribel San Miguel.
Guioguio, a member of the ICTSI squad, sizzled with a flawless, four-under 68, highlighted by a 24-foot birdie putt on No. 12 from where she started.
She saved pars twice then added three more birdies on Nos. 1, 2 and 8 inside eight feet.
“I was surprised with my score. I haven’t played Palos Verdes for almost a decade. I had a grand time out there enjoying my game throughout the day,” said Guioguio, the reigning DHL Amateur and Sarawak Open champion.
The PAL Ladies Interclub, which carries the theme “She Swings!”, is backed by classic sponsors Stargate Media, Business Mirror, Hi-Definition Radio, GECAS, Crossover, Kumare Klub on TV5, Boeing, Radio Mindanao Network, Airbus and Manila Hotel.
Donors are Asia Brewery, Tanduay, Paris Hilton Shop at Abreeza Mall, Microtel Hotels & Resorts, Imperial Palace Cebu, Mandarin Oriental and Bluewater Resorts.
In the Founders division, ex-national team member Anya Tanpinco matched Guioguio’s 68 to lead the way for Negros’ 132 output, 11 ahead of Alabang’s 121. Riviera had 119 followed by Valley Golf-South’s 102 and Cebu Country Club and Mactan Island, which both had 87s.
Alabang scored back-to-back victories from 1987 before the PAL Ladies Interclub was temporarily scrapped. The tournament was revived this year with PAL executive Dinah Mae Flores heading the organizing committee.
Southwoods’ Legends squad assembled a 109 to seize control in the Sportswriters division. Claudine Garcia carded a 43 while Nini Samaniego and Belle Villanueva 30 added 36 and 30 points, respectively.
Bacolod had a 97 followed by Eagle Ridge (93), Manila Golf (91) and Kooka-Birdie (86).
Rancho Palos Verdes took charge in the Friendship division with a 97 for a six-point lead over Apo.
Twenty two local and foreign clubs, consisting of close to 200 players, are competing in the sixth edition of the tourney last staged by PAL 23 years ago in Cebu.