LK Go, a gem of a find from Cebu, fired an eagle-aided two-under-par 70 Wednesday to seize a one-shot lead over the fancied Princess Superal as local bets flexed their muscles and dominated first round play in the Philippine Ladies Open golf championship presented by Champion Infinity at Tagaytay Midlands.
The 16-year-old Go, younger sister of former men’s national champion LJ, signed for a 3 on the par-5 16th, but closed out with a bogey and blew a three-shot lead on Superal, who picked up a shot on the 18th.
Fil-Japanese Yaka Saso returned a 72 to be two shots behind, with Pauline del Rosario shooting a 75 like Angela Legaspi.
Sofia Chabon and Felicia Medalla fired 76s to remain solidly in the mix with Michaela Fortuna and Kayla Nocum firing 77s to be in the top 10.
A big gun that struggled was reigning national champion Harmie Constantino, who signed for a 78 to be tied with the best-placed foreigner, Malaysian Kellie Kan.
Go also had three birdies that went with the same number of bogeys, while Superal, who is seeking to win a sixth straight event, had a roller-coaster round, birdieing Nos. 5 and 13 but dropping shots on the ninth and the par-3 17th before that birdie on the dogleg-right 18th. Musong R. Castillo