Ladies’ ‘The Duel’: South sweeps better ball

The South got off to a rip-roaring start in the ICTSI Philippine Ladies Golf Tour’s The Duel yesterday by winning all four matches in the better-ball format at the tight South Links layout in Las Piñas.

Chihiro Ikeda and Sarah Ababa dominated the Heidi Chua-Lucy Landicho pairing with a 4-and-3 decision even as Mia Piccio and Apple Fudolin upended Cyna Rodriguez’ partnership with the veteran Mary Grace Estuesta, 3 and 1.

Eva Miñoza and Lovelyn Guioguio and Anya Tanpinco and Tracy Que then posted high-wire triumphs over fancied foes to complete the Day 1 shutout of the defending champion Northerners.

“Everyone clicked, that’s why we got good results,” South skipper Sylvia Torres said. “We hope to do the same (today). We will play pressure-free and have fun.”

Miñoza-Guioguio pounded out a 1-up decision of the Jayvie Agojo-Lina de Guzman team, while Tanpinco and the returning Que bested Dottie Ardina and Marjorie Palumbarit, 2-up.

The first-day result was a stark contrast to last year’s battle at Canlubang, where the North led in the first two days before South rallied in the singles to win.

The South needs just 4.5 points to repeat as champion as play shifts to alternate shot today.

Tanpinco-Que tackles the Agojo-Landicho pair, while Piccio will partner with Guioguio as they clash with the Ardina-Estuesta team.

Play starts at 7 a.m.

Ababa and Ikeda will go out together again against the veteran Chua, who will be trying out a new partner in Jan Punzalan.

The event is being sponsored by International Container Terminal Services Inc. and backed by Nike, Pacsports, Custom Clubmakers and Sharp.