Abdon, Ardina grab match play top seeds

TRECE MARTIREZ, Cavite— Jik-Jik Abdon drew the lightest assignment in the first round of the match play stages of the Philippine Amateur Closed championship after firing a two-under-par 70 yesterday to top classification at Sherwood Hills here.

The deliberate-playing Abdon gunned down five birdies in a hot round for top seeding and will clash with the lightly-regarded Mel Cubillo even as Dottie Ardina was the women’s No. 1 after a second straight 76.

Cubillo struggled for the second straight day and returned an 82 for a 165 total, enough to book the 16th and last berth in the match play of the event serving as the third leg of the Globe-NGAP circuit.

Counting his opening 74, Abdon, a veteran campaigner looking for a breakthrough win, tallied 144 for the 36-hole classification honor in the event backed by Pancake House, Golf Depot, Suntrust, Titleist, Empire Sports, Microtel Suites and Airphil Express.

Jonar Austria, the first round leader, fumbled with a 77 and settled for No. 2 and a duel with Don Petil, the 15th seed who also fired an 82 for 165 but won out in the countback over Cubillo.

Reymon Jaraulla, a bet out of Del Monte, was No. 3 at 152 after a 78 and will slug it out with Manfred Guangko even as Gio Gandionco placed fourth at 153 after a 75 and will take on Ramir Roque, who carded a 79 for a 164.

Magno Arancon submitted a 79 for a 154 total and a duel with Chepe Dulay, who had a 163 after an 80. Other matches pit Joey Huerva (75-156) against Andres Saldana (80-163), Lawrence Celestino (74-157) against Noel Langamin (79-162), and Rene Menor (75-158) against Justin Quiban (75-161).

Sunshine Baraquiel also fired a 76 and was second to Ardina at 156. She is pitted against No. 7 Jan Punzalan, who had a 173 after an 86.

Jayvie Agojo, the former Philippine Ladies Amateur champion, had a 74 after an atrocious first round 85 for a 159 to take No. 3 and a match with No. 6 Apple Fudolin, who had a 168 after an 83.

Lovelynn Guioguio, winner of the Philippine Amateur Open, finished fourth with a 161 after a 74 and will slug it out with Rainstar Roque, who made an 82 for a 166.