Fiery Cyna storms ahead at Sherwood with 68

Cyna Rodriguez gunned down five birdies on the way to a four-under-par 68 yesterday and grabbed a two-shot lead over amateur Princess Superal after the first round of the P750,000 ICTSI Sherwood Ladies Championship in Trece Martirez, Cavite.

Rodriguez actually held a six-stroke lead over the nearest pro pursuer, Anya Tanpinco, who fired a 74, with seven amateurs occupying the first nine slots in the Top 10.

Pauline del Rosario, Superal’s ICTSI stablemate, had an eagle-spiked 71, with Sam Martirez and Korean expatriate Seong Jeung-eun shooting 72s to trail by four shots.

Sofia Chabon, a member of the Southwoods Masters squad that ruled the PAL Ladies Interclub in Cebu last month, shot a 73 with fellow amateurs Harmie Constantino and Fil-Japanese Yuka Saso matching Tanpinco’s 74.

Rodriguez strung up three birdies from No. 3 and was already at four-under after 12 holes before dropping her only shot on No. 13.

Apple Fudolin, Chihiro Ikeda and Lovelyn Guioguio were seven shots adrift after 75s, with Abby Arevalo, another ICTSI mainstay, firing a 76 like second-year pro Sarah Ababa.

“This is a nice way to open up a tournament, but no one wins in the first round,” said Rodriguez, who is bidding to cap another Order of Merit win with her fourth title of the year.

While Rodriguez was hot early, Superal needed some time to warm up, birdieing three of her last four holes on the front nine to salvage a 35 after bogeys on Nos. 4 and 5.