Pinay golfer Jayvie Agojo dreams big
“I'm not striking the ball very well,” claims Jayvie Agojo, one of the Philippines' top lady golfers, even as she dispatches one ball after another straight and high into the Laguna sky. One can understand why her standards are so elevated.
It's a Tuesday, and Agojo is in her office, which is the driving range in Manila Southwoods.
In between swings Agojo grouses about a recent practice round in The Country Club, where she fires 9 birdies but only manages a 69.
Agojo may be unsettled at this moment with her ball-striking, but the first-year pro has already burst into the winner's circle. Her face lights up when she recalls her maiden professional victory, last September in the Singha-Sat Thai LPGA Championship in Nakhon Nayot.
“OMG it was unbelievable. I'm happy, thankful, and I feel blessed. I was so not expecting it. Parang hindi totoo (It's like it wasn't real). Gusto ko lang magpaparty (I just wanted to throw a party).”
Agojo displayed some world-class mental toughness in rallying back from a five-shot deficit against Vietnam's Tang Thi Nung with just nine holes to go.
Birdies in the 11th, 14th, and 15th holes put her in contention, and even though she flubbed a makeable birdie putt on the 16th, she picked up another on the penultimate hole, then parred the 36h hole (ladies events are often just three rounds but rain shortened this one to just two rounds) to win by one stroke.
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Agojo took home 71,000 Thai baht, about P100,000 for her week's work.
The Pepperdine University product is also leading the way in the inaugural Ladies Philippine Golf Tour Order of Merit. Her season total of P212,000 is twelve grand ahead of Dottie Ardina and Cyna Rodriguez. The next tour stop, the ICTSI John Hay Ladies Invitational from October 28 to 31, could settle who wins that three-cornered battle.
Agojo says that without the help of Enrique Razon's ICTSI, Golf would most certainly be in the doldrums. ICTSI sponsors her alongside Golf equipment retailer Pacsports.
Agojo has set her sights on more lofty goals, though, than the fledgling local circuit.
“I wanna play in the LPGA,” she asserts. The Ladies Professional Golf Association in the USA is considered the highest level of womens' Golf in the world, with a grueling multi-stage qualifying school just to get in. Agojo's dream is to follow the trail blazed by Jennifer Rosales and Dorothy Delasin, Filipinas who have won on the LPGA.
Before Agojo tries that she hopes to make it to the Japanese or Chinese tours first.
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Agojo certainly has the technique. Her coach, Bong Lopez, who has worked on many top Pinoy pros, obviously knows how to mold a world-class swing.
Her swing is textbook-perfect, with a smooth rhythm, and a grip that's perfectly neutral. She doesn't reach parallel at the top of the swing, which should be helpful as she grows older. She attacks the ball with a very upright plane and holds her finish well.
Her natural right-to-left drawish ball flight is handy for eking out a wee bit more distance from every stroke.
But therein lies the problem. At 5'1” still doesn't have the length she desires. Her drives reach an average of 230 yards, max 250 she says. Many pros outdrive her by a a good distance. Jayvie is fighting back with Plyometric exercises to improve flexibility plus plenty of exercises on her core muscles and legs. There are even some Boxing sessions to build arm strength.
Fortunately Agojo says the strengths of her game are her putting and short game, which help make up for the dearth of length off the tee.
Agojo is no intense automaton when it comes to the game. Interviewing her, dressed in an apple green top and gray slacks, is a joy, since she radiates calm and instantly puts you at ease.
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Like a schoolgirl Agojo giggles at the thought of Aussie pro Adam Scott. “Ang gwapo niya, promise! Magaling pa. I so wanna see him in person!”
During the interview another pro deposits a polvoron on the table. “Ooh, pinapataba mo ba ako (Do you want me to get fat)?” she replies with a smile.
When not slaving away on the range or the course Agojo spends time with her four-year-old daughter Jeorgina, taking her to Museo Pambata, Time Zone, and other places for mommy-daughter bonding.
Agojo confesses that the hardest part of her life as a pro is saying goodbye to Jeorgina when she goes off to a tournament.
Despite her sunny disposition, Agojo's life is not without its trials. Her father Jun, who took her to the range to hit 500 balls every day while she studied in OB Montessori, has been debilitated by a stroke. Her mother Victoria is also struggling, beset with stage four cancer.
“I try not to think about it on the course,” she offers with a brave smile.
On the links Agojo is all focus as she chases her dream with an undercurrent of joy. While she swings away on the range she hums lyrics from Capital Cities' catchy hit “Safe and Sound.” It's appropriate, since she appears to be singing to herself, egging herself on to greatness.
I could lift you up
I could show you what you wanna see
And make you want you wanna be
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Follow Bob on Twitter @PassionateFanPH.
