Seong makes strong start at Philippines Ladies Masters

MANILA, Philippines — Foreign domination, a hole-in-one and a lone Filipino representation at the leaderboard in Pauline del Rosario marked the high-octane opening day of the ICTSI Worldwide Link Philippine Ladies Masters on a sunny Wednesday at The Country Club in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

South Korea’s Eunjeong Seong stole the thunder from fancied bets with an impressive five-under 67 for the solo lead as Del Rosario put on a strong finishing kick to forge a two-way tie at third place with a three-under 69 in Round 1 of the 54-hole, $200,000 tourney.

Another Korean Yeonjung Son shot a hole-in-one in the par-3 sixth hole for a two-under 70 to join a logjam at eighth among nine players. She took home a TCC trophy, cup, polo shirt and $300 prize.

But the sizzling opening day at the demanding 6,337-yard TCC layout belonged to Seong, ranked No. 188 in the KLPGA and fresh off a 20th finish in the Indonesia Women’s Open, who started at the back nine and waxed hot early with back-to-back birdies to tally a 33.

Seong had a lone bogey late on the front at eighth hole but fired three more birdies, none bigger than at the dreaded ninth hole to snatch the driver’s seat from second-running compatriot Nahyun Kim, with four-under 68.

“My pace was good so it’s a strong finish,” said Seong.

Seong makes strong start at Philippines Ladies Masters

John Bryan

MANILA, Philippines — Foreign domination, a hole-in-one and a lone Filipino representation at the leaderboard in Pauline del Rosario marked the high-octane opening day of the ICTSI Worldwide Link Philippine Ladies Masters on a sunny Wednesday at The Country Club in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

South Korea’s Eunjeong Seong stole the thunder from fancied bets with an impressive five-under 67 for the solo lead as Del Rosario put on a strong finishing kick to forge a two-way tie at third place with a three-under 69 in Round 1 of the 54-hole, $200,000 tourney.

Another Korean Yeonjung Son shot a hole-in-one in the par-3 sixth hole for a two-under 70 to join a logjam at eighth among nine players. She took home a TCC trophy, cup, polo shirt and $300 prize.

But the sizzling opening day at the demanding 6,337-yard TCC layout belonged to Seong, ranked No. 188 in the KLPGA and fresh off a 20th finish in the Indonesia Women’s Open, who started at the back nine and waxed hot early with back-to-back birdies to tally a 33.

Seong had a lone bogey late on the front at eighth hole but fired three more birdies, none bigger than at the dreaded ninth hole to snatch the driver’s seat from second-running compatriot Nahyun Kim, with four-under 68.

“My pace was good so it’s a strong finish,” said Seong.