AMATEUR Cyna Rodriguez shrugged off the effects of a rain delay yesterday and shot a level-par 72 to keep a charging Dottie Ardina and fellow amateur Princess Superal at bay heading into the final round of the ICTSI Ladies pro tour at the exclusive The Country Club in Laguna.
Rodriguez played her last six holes at even par after a 20-minute suspension of play because of lightning, and that was enough to cushion the impact of a 70 carded by the pint-sized Ardina, the pro-debutante who is the odds-on pick to win this event.
Counting an opening 69 on Wednesday, Rodriguez will take a 141 total going into the final 18 holes.
Superal, labeled as heir apparent to Ardina as the country’s top amateur, fired a day-best 69 to catch Ardina at 142 and complete today’s final group.
Another amateur, Miya Legaspi, was also at 142 after shooting a 72.
“I’m happy to maintain my lead but I have to improve on my putting tomorrow (today),” said Rodriguez, whose second round was marred by a double bogey 6 on No. 7.
Ardina picked up three shots on her first five holes on the back nine and missed tying Rodriguez for the lead when she missed the 15th green and failed to save par.
But the seasoned Ardina is expected to hound Rodriguez in today’s final round and clinch the rare honor as the tour’s first-ever champion.
“I had no luck in putting,” Ardina rued.
Superal shot five birdies, all inside seven feet. Superal’s bogeys came on Nos. 7 and 18, where she failed to find the fairways.
Legaspi, the 14-year-old amateur, birdied the 14th to salvage her even-par card and will be joined in the penultimate group by the veteran Jayvee Agojo and Lovelyn Guioguio.
Agojo, who had a sterling 70 on Wednesday, ballooned to a 76 and would need nothing less than a spectacular round to pull this one out. Guioguio was at 147 after shooting a 72.
Several amateurs were in the Top 10, counting Sam Bruce and Sarah Ababa, who are at 150 after shooting a 76 and a 75, respectively.
Anya Tanpinco, who opened up with a 71, skied to an uncharacteristic 80 and all but bowed out of the title hunt at 151. Musong R. Castillo