Thai gets back at Rodriguez

AMOLKAN Phalajivin of Thailand shot a 2-under-par 69 yesterday and avenged her two lopsided losses to Cyna Rodriguez with a three-stroke victory in the ICTSI Splendido Ladies Invitational at Splendido Taal Golf Club in Tagaytay.

Wielding a hot putter, the 26-year-old Thai birdied the second hole from the fringe, surged ahead by four strokes at the turn and went on to nail her first win on the ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour with a 54-hole total of 3-over 216.

Rodriguez, coming off three straight triumphs at John Hay in Baguio, Malarayat in Batangas and Eagle Ridge in Cavite after topping the kickoff leg at Orchard, closed out with a 73 for 219.

“My birdie on No. 2 from the fringe set the tone and my putting was simply superb,” said  Amolkan,  who lost to Rodriguez by 11 shots in Baguio and 10 in Batangas. She won P100,000.

Amolkan, one shot behind Rodriguez and amateur Yuka Saso after 36 holes, hit the turn with a 33 after  another birdie on No. 3 before stumbling with her only bogey for the day by missing the green of the par-3 17th hole.

“She (Amolkan) played solid,” said Rodriguez, who buried long birdie putts on the first and third holes to nullify a double bogey on No. 2. She settled for P70,000.

Chihiro Ikeda fell by four at the turn but birdied two of the last three holes to save a 70 and salvage  third.