JAPAN’s Riko Nagai and Rowena Bjorklund grabbed a share of the limelight with the top players in the Philippine Ladies Open Golf Championship, winning their respective divisions in the tournament presented by Champion Infinity on Friday at the Midlands in Tagaytay.
Nagai and Bjorklund thus joined amateur ace Princess Superal in the podium finish after the former US Girls’ Junior champion won the Ladies Open, firing a closing 73 for a 214 and a one-stroke win over Yuka Saso.
Nagai closed with an 84 after rounds of 88 and 92 for a 264 total to beat Stella Barnes (92) by five in Class A. Marilyn Reyes had a closing 88 to snatch third place at 272 in the tournament organized by the Women’s Golf Association of the Philippines.
Catalina Neish and Soon Hak Jung shot 93s to finish tied for fourth at 279, Hee Sun Kim ended up sixth at 280 after a 98, and Karen Buenaventura closed with an 88 for a 281.
Bjorklund had a closing 90 for a 283 total and a 16-stroke win in Class B.
Sun Ok Park shot a 97 for a 299, while Melody Trovag placed third with a 311 after a 99.
Maricel Galisim ended up fourth with a 319 after a 108 in the event backed by Filinvest Alabang, Inc., Metro Pacific, Shell, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Taishan Insurance Brokers, Inc., MEC, Jewelmer, G&W Clubshares Inc., Vermogen, Tagaytay Highlands Ladies Chapter, Alabang Ladies Golf Chapter, Canlubang Ladies Chapter, Forest Hills Ladies Circle, Manila Golf Ladies Chapter, URC-C2, Midlands Golf Club, Rockport and Impact Golf magazine.