Rodriguez ties Ababa; Agojo just one down

HONG KONG—Cyna Rodriguez birdied No. 18 to salvage a 1-over-par 72 and tie a faltering Sarah Ababa at the helm even as Jayvie Agojo closed in on the leaders with a solid 69 in the second round of the Hong Kong Ladies Amateur Open at the Discovery Bay Golf Club here yesterday.

Rodriguez hit three birdies but fumbled with four bogeys in another windy day at the Diamond and Jade courses for a 72 that tied her with Ababa (74) at 140.

After turning in a five-under 66 Wednesday, Ababa struggled with bogeys on Nos. 9, 13 and 17 to pave the way for a wide open battle for the crown in today’s final round.

Agojo got into the mix by shooting one of the day’s two best scores  and closing in on her ICTSI-PH teammates at 141 in a tie with local bet Michelle Cheung, who made a 70.

Seeking to clinch a second straight international crown in as many weeks, the 26-year-old defending champion Agojo gunned down three birdies set up by superb iron shots to negate a lone bogey on No. 10.

The top ICTSI-backed bet also virtually wrapped up the the mid-amateur crown for the second straight year as she posted a whopping eight-stroke lead over Lovelyn Guioguio, who had a 149 after a 73.