Rodriguez triumphs by 3

CYNA Rodriguez put herself back in familiar territory. And in overpowering fashion.

The well-built Rodriguez closed out with an eagle-spiked three-under-par 69 yesterday and won the ICTSI Riviera Ladies Championship by six shots over Sarah Ababa in Silang, Cavite.

It was the first victory this year for Rodriguez, who broke par in all three rounds on the way to an eight-under 208.

Ababa fell short in her bid for a breakthrough triumph, failing to sustain the brilliance of an opening 68 with a second straight 73 for 214, eight strokes ahead of Lovelyn Guioguio, who was third, also after a 73.

Korean amateur Hwang Min-jeong and Jayvie Agojo, who was gunning for a repeat of her only pro title here, tied for fourth at 223 after identical 72s.

Rodriguez, who won four of eight Ladies Tour events last season, signed for an eagle-3 on No. 2 to open up a six-shot lead over Ababa and coast the rest of the way.

Filipino-American Cristina Corpus shot the day’s only other sub-par round, a 71, to finish seventh at 229, with Korean Kim So Un finishing another stroke behind after a 73.

Former amateur stalwart Chihiro Ikeda struggled to a 77 shared ninth spot with amateur Annika Cedo, who carded a 74, at 230.