Team South scores sweep of first four matches against North rivals in LPGT The Duel 2
Team South’s Sarah Ababa and Chihiro Ikeda share a light moment before teeing off on No. 5.
Original Post: www.spin.ph
Post Date: December 16, 2014
TEAM South got its bid for a repeat going with a sweep of the four fourballs matches against the North squad at the start of the ICTSI Ladies Philippine Golf Tour’s Duel 2 – North vs South on Tuesday at the South Links Golf Club in Las Piñas.
Chihiro Ikeda and Sarah Ababa outplayed Heidi Chua and Lucy Landicho 4 and 3, while Mia Piccio and Apple Fudolin humbled fancied Cyna Rodriguez and Mary Grace Estuesta, 3 and 1, to set the tone for the rout in the better-ball format.
Eva Miñoza and Lovelynn Guioguio outsteadied fancied Jayvie Agojo and Lina de Guzman, 1-up, while Anya Tanpinco and Tracy Que held off Symetra Tour veteran Dottie Ardina and Marjorie Pulumbarit, 2-up.
“It was all about team work. Everybody clicked that’s why we got good results,” said Sylvia Torres, team captain of the South squad. “We hope to do the same tomorrow (today). We’ll have fun and play pressure-free.”
Foursomes are set on Wednesday, with Ababa and Ikeda teaming up again against Chua and debuting Jan Punzalan at 7 a.m.
Tanpinco and Que take on Agojo and Landicho, while Piccio and Guioguio face Ardina and Estuesta.
Miñoza partners with Fudolin as they anchor Team South’s bid against Rodriguez and De Guzman in the final group at 7:30 a.m.
“We had it rough out there today but we had down-to-the-wire matches with Dottie and Jayvie’s groups,” said Chua, skipper of Team North.
“Actually, when I saw the pairings, I told my team that we have good, exciting match-ups. But at the end of the day, it is what it is, Team South outplayed us. But tomorrow is another day and I truly believe that the North can come back strong and surprise the South and win.”
The North squad dominated the foursomes and fourball last year but Team South made a sizzling charge in the singles to snatch the crown in the event sponsored by International Container Terminal Services Inc., backed by Nike, Pacsports, Custom Clubmakers and Sharp, and organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.
The first team to win 8.5 points clinches the crown.
Meanwhile, Raymund Gonzales fired a four-under 68 at Eagle Ridge’s Aoki course to pace the four-day Qualifying School for next year’s ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour.
Richard Sinfuego and Jet Mathay matched par 72s while Jobim Carlos and Nilo Salahog carded identical 73s as they put themselves in early contention for the 45 slots for next year’s golfing season.
