Cyna top pick as ICTSI Ladies Tour fires off at Orchard

MANILA, Philippines — The second season of the fledgling ICTSI Ladies Pro Tour gets off the ground Monday at the Player course of Orchard Golf Club in Cavite, with Cyna Rodriguez looking for a solid start in defense of her Order of Merit title.

With Dottie Ardina busy campaigning overseas, Rodriguez sets out as the prohibitive pick in the 54-hole, P500,000 event that offers P100,000 to the champion.

Jayvie Agojo and Chihiro Ikeda, who like Rodriguez served years as standouts for the Philippine squad, are the chief threats to Rodriguez, who won the last two legs last year to rule the OOM race over Ardina.

Rodriguez has the length and the silky touch around the greens that practically no one else in the field has.

Ikeda, who campaigned in the Japan Tour in her first year as a pro two years ago, played in the last two events last year.

Agojo, meanwhile, is seeking to win a pro event for the first time in the country, years after dominating the amateur scene and going to the United States on a golf scholarship and obtaining a degree.

Riviera will stage the next leg from July 1 to 3 for the Riviera Invitational followed by the Mt. Malarayat leg on Aug. 12 to 14 and Eagle Ridge Invitational on Sept. 9 to 11.