Agojo paces Ikeda by one

Jayvie Agojo rode a hot back nine to shoot a 3-under-par 69 and take a one-shot lead over Chihiro Ikeda after the opening round of the ICTSI Riviera Ladies’ Classic at the Couples layout in Silang, Cavite.

Agojo gunned down five of her six birdies coming home in a 37-32 card and overtook Ikeda, who failed to sustain a hot start to settle for a 70 after a scorching 31 on her first nine holes.

“I was too tight despite a birdie on the first (hole),” Agojo said when asked of her shaky front nine effort.

With former pro Tonlits Asistio carrying her bag, Agojo got a lot of help and acknowledged that she had great distance control for the round. “All my birdies were inside six feet.”

Lovelyn Guioguio was the third and last player under par with a 71 to stay within striking distance of the leaders and pose as the spoiler to what pundits tipped as an Agojo-Ikeda dogfight for the title.

Sarah Ababa fired a 72, and amateur Ming Jeong-hwang of South Korea submitted a 73 to remain in the hunt with the veteran Anya Tanpinco shooting a 74 to trail by five.

Dottie Ardina and Cyna Rodriguez, who won all the previous five legs of the two-year-old circuit, both have commitments abroad and missed the P500,000 event.

The 54-hole event is supported by Nike, Pacsports, Custom Clubmakers and Sharp.