Rodriguez, 2 others make US Am KO stage

CYNA Rodriguez and Jayvie Agojo used a solid start to shoot identical three-under 69s to clinch match play berths in the US Women’s Amateur while Dottie Ardina advanced despite a 73 at The Country Club in Cleveland, Ohio Tuesday.

Rodriguez, the US-based golf scholar of ICTSI, birdied the first two holes and gunned down another on No. 4 to string nines of 34-35 for a 143 as she finished tied for 14th and safely made it to the knockout stage after the 36-hole stroke play elims.

Agojo, the reigning Hong Kong Amateur Open champion, eagled the par-5 No. 2 then hit four more birdies against three bogeys for 35-34 card to share 25th place at 145.

Ardina, the top ICTSI-backed bet who matched par 72 Monday, failed to get going after a birdie on the second hole, hitting just one more birdie against three bogeys, including on No. 18, for a 73.

Still, she made it safely to the next round, joining Agojo and five others in 25th place in the 64-player match play field topped by Korean Kim Hyo-Joo.

Kim, the reigning Queen Sirikit Cup champion, blazed the course and the field with two 68s for a 136 to win the low medal honors over New Zealand’s world No. 1 Lydia Ko, who had a 137 after a 71.

The three Filipina bets hope to gain entry to the second round of match play after drawing lower-ranked opponents with Rodriguez squaring off with No. 49 Ani Gulugian of California, who had a 148, and Agojo mixing it up with No. 36 Emily Childs, also of the US, who had a 147.

Ardina will take on Austin Ernst from South Carolina, who wound up at No. 34 with a 147.