Baraquiel ties Superal for the lead

With the sun finally peeking out after days of cloudy weather, so was Sunshine Baraquiel’s A-game as she fired 58 Molave points yesterday to tie erstwhile solo leader Princess Superal after two rounds of the 49th Southern Ladies golf tournament at the Cebu Country Club in Banilad.

Baraquiel, the lovely ace of Manila Southwoods, had a superb round of four-under par 68 in stroke play, which bested the first round 69 of Superal, to set the stage for a two-woman race for the crown in the elite Championship division.

Baraquiel now has a total of 112, capped by birdies on holes 1, 6, 12 and 17, to tie Superal for the lead. Superal tapered off with 55 points after scoring 57 the other day.

It was an up and down day for Superal, who battled back from a bogey mishap on No. 3 with three straight birdies from No. 7. However, she made two other bogeys on Nos. 13 and 18 against her fourth birdie at 17th.

Jayvie Agojo also birdied Nos. 7 and 8 but fumbled with bogeys on Nos. 14 and 15 before birdying the 16th for a 71 and 55 points. Agojo, also of the fabled ICTSI team, totaled 107 points heading to the final round of the 54-hole tournament serving as part of the NGAP-Globe Business Circuit and organized and conducted by the National Golf Association of the Phils.

Sarah Ababa scored 56 points for a 106 while Alta Vista’s Ericka Lim carded 52 points for a 105 in a tie with reigning Philippine amateur champion Lovelynn Guioguio, who had 53 points yesterday.

In the 36-hole seniors play, Violeta Pegels of Forest Hills scored 43 and 41 points for 84 to post a two-point victory over Aguinaldo’s Leni Cabili, who had an 82 from rounds of 40-42. Eva Hino of CCC Highbestus and Mary Ang of Forest Hills both had 74s after 36 and 34 points, respectively.

In team competition, Forest Hills assembled a 246 to romp off with the championship, 19 points ahead of CCC Mango which had a 227 while Aguinaldo Tres Marias placed third with 219.