ladies open
Stephanie Ho
Agojo Ends Title Drought
Tiffany Chan
Philippine star finishes strong to win her first individual title of the year at the Hong Kong Ladies Open Amateur Championship
J
ayvie Agojo claimed her first Helene et Henri Hong Kong Ladies Open Amateur Championship at Fanling mid September, overcoming compatriot – and pre-tournament favourite – Dottie Ardina with an accomplished display in the final round. Agojo, a graduate of Pepperdine University who qualified for this year’s US Women’s Amateur Open, fired a solid one under-par round of 71 over the Old Course for a three-day total of 215 and a three-shot win. Taiwan’s Peng Chieh (218) earned her second runner-up finish at the event in as many years, with another Filipina, Lovelyn Guioguio, finishing third, a further three shots adrift.
Ardina, one of the world’s most highly-rated juniors and a former winner of this event, had a day to forget, however. Starting the round just one behind Agojo, the David Leadbetter Golf Academy student who is based in Florida slumped to a disappointing 77 to place fourth. "It feels great to win again," said Agojo, a three-time winner of the Philippines Sports Writers' Association's "Outstanding Women's Golfer of the Year" award. "I just kept my focus throughout and got some breaks with those long birdies." Agojo, 25, holed a 40ft birdie putt on the 13th to increase her lead and essentially wrapped things up at the 16th, where she rolled in a 20-footer, also for birdie. It was her first individual tournament win of 2011, although she did claim the New Zealand Foursomes in harness with teammate Sarah Ababa earlier in the year. Agojo also won the Mid Amateur title, which was played in conjunction with the Open championship. Tiffany Chan and Kitty Tam, who tied for fifth spot on a total of 223, were Hong Kong's best performers, while Stephanie Ho, playing in her first tournament of the year, showed little sign of rust as she recorded a solid top 10. Ho, who has had to put golf on the backburner due to show business commitments following her successful appearance on TVB's singing programme, The Voice, started brightly with a 72 before fading slightly over the closing rounds.
Star Showing: Jayvie Agojo
Peng Chieh
Kitty Tam
Ladies Open Standings
Daniel Wong
1 2 3 4 5= 7 8 9=
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HK Golfer・OCT 2011
Jayvie Agojo PHL Peng Chieh TWN Lovelyn Guioguio PHL Dottie Ardina PHL Tiffany Chan HKG Kitty Tam HKG Pavarisa Yoktuan THA Pinrath Loom'ruang THA Hathaikarn Wong'phaisal THA Stephanie Ho HKG
74 70 71 70 76 72 77 74 70 70 75 77 75 74 74 72 76 75 77 72 75 75 75 76 75 76 79 72 78 80
215 218 221 222 223 223 224 226 230 230
HKGOLFER.COM
Dottie Ardina HKGOLFER.COM
HK Golfer・OCT 2011
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