Cyna sets out to nail fifth Ladies Tour crown

Cyna Rodriguez hopes to silence her rivals’ “Stop Cyna” battle cry with a strong start as she guns for a fourth straight win and fifth overall in the ICTSI Splendido Ladies Invitational beginning today at Splendido Taal Golf Club in Tagaytay.

Rodriguez has dominated the last three legs of the ICTSI Ladies Philippine Golf Tour, beating Thai Amolkan Phalajivin by 11 at ICTSI John Hay and by 10 at ICTSI Mt. Malarayat. She trailed amateur Pauline del Rosario at ICTSI Eagle Ridge but unleashed a scorching finish—a bogey-free 67 spiked by an ace—to win by five.

Unless the likes of second leg ICTSI Riviera Ladies Classic champion Jayvie Agojo, former SEA Games gold medalist Chihiro Ikeda and Phalajivin come up with a solid game throughout the 54-hole tournament, Rodriguez could be in for another victory in the circuit sponsored by International Container Terminal Services Inc.

“Each event is a real test and like the rest, I practice hard to get the victory,” said Rodriguez, who also beat Agojo by five to rule the kickoff leg of the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc. at ICTSI Orchard last April.

Rodriguez drew an 8 a.m. flight with Eva Miñoza and Anya Tanpinco while Agojo and Ikeda are paired with Korean amateur Kim So Un in the last flight at 8:50 a.m.

Aside from Kim, talented local amateurs are also in the fold, all eager to prove their worth in the event backed by Nike, Pacsports, Custom Clubmakers and Sharp.

Focus will also be on Yuka Saso and Sam Martinez,  Team ICTSI mainstays who are coming off victories in Malaysia and Kota Kinabalu, with Saso joining Sylvia Torres and Sarah Ababa in the 7:50 a.m. flight and Martinez grouped with Lina de Guzman and Korean Kwon Seo Yon.