Sixteen-year old Cebuana shotmaker Lois Kaye Go scored an eagle-laced two-under par 70 yesterday to grab a one-stroke lead over fancied Filipina golfer Princess Superal after the first round of the Philippine Ladies Open Golf Championship at the Tagaytay Midlands in Tagaytay.
Go, the younger sister of another amateur star Lloyd Jefferson Go, did the Cebu Country Club proud as she actually took a three-shot lead heading to the 18th before bogeying the par-5 hole which Superal birdied to settle for a one-shot edge in the 54-hole championship.
The Cebuana ace, who turned in an impressive performance in the ICTSI-JGFP Visayas Inter-School Championship last month, bucked the dreaded Tagaytay wind and Superal’s equally impressive game, putting together a round that featured three birdies against the same number of bogeys and an eagle on No. 16 to take charge in the prestigious tournament that drew bets from Thailand, Malaysia, Korea, Japan and Australia.
“I was only aiming to get the ball on the green but my shot ended up five-feet right of the hole. But still it was a tough shot to sink,” said Go in a talk with Cebu Daily News right after her round.
Go said that her club selection and distance evaluation was much improved today, greatly helping her to do well in a course notorious for the strong winds.
Superal, seeking a follow-up to her Hong Kong Ladies Amateur romp two weeks ago, birdied No. 18 from close range to string a 36-35 card in windy condition that bedeviled the games of the rest of the starting 66-player field.
The top Country Club bet also birdied No. 5 and 13 but dropped shots on Nos. 9 and 17 although the former US Girls’ Junior champion remained on track for a crack at the crown.
Yuka Saso matched par 72 for third while Pauline del Rosario, the reigning Thailand Amateur Open champion, came in ruffled by the wind and signed a three-over 75 in a tie with Angela Legaspi.
Sofia Chabon, another TCC bet, carded a 76 for joint sixth with Wack Wack’s Felicia Medalla, Mikha Fortuna and Kayla Nocum shared eighth place with 77s while reigning national champion Harmie Constantino skied to a 78 in a tie with Malaysian Kellie Kan.
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