Rodriguez seizes opening round lead at Luisita

TARLAC—Cyna Rodriguez used a hot start to fire a two-under-par 70 and take a four-stroke lead over Thailand’s Supakchaya Pattaranakrueang and Marvi Monsalve at the start of the ICTSI Luisita Ladies Championship on Wednesday here.

Coming off a string of so-so efforts in the circuit she used to rule with an iron hand, Rodriguez birdied the 18th to salvage a 34-36 card that was simply brilliant on a sun-scorched day at the hazard-laden layout.

Pattaranakrueang actually seized control early with birdies on Nos. 2 and 6 only to struggle on the demanding back nine and slip into a tie with Monsalve.

The fancied Princess Superal’s bid for a third straight crown got off shakily after she wrestled with her irons all round for a 76, six strokes off and with a lot of catching up to do starting with Thursday’s second round.

“I’ve been practicing hard, especially on putting, with the guidance of coach Bong (Lopez),” said Rodriguez, the former three-time Order of Merit winner whose last win in the circuit came in 2015 at Riviera.

Even with a comfortable lead, Rodriguez knows that she will still have to play extremely well to continue holding off her pursuers, especially Superal.

Monsalve grappled with her irons but made clutch par putts to be in contention in the P1.5 million event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.