Del Monte stalwarts Cristal Shin and Eva Miñoza stormed into the opening-round lead of the 45 th Southern Ladies Tournament yesterday at the Bacolod Golf and Country Club course in Murcia , Negros Occidental.

Shin shot an eagle-spiked two-under for 56 points while Miñoza submitted an even par 54 points in the up-and-down course.

Underlining her seriousness for a third straight crown, Shin sank an eagle in the 457-yard par 5 hole No. 5.

Bacoleña Anya Tanpinco, who won two silvers in last year's Southeast Asian Games, and Louise Manalo are locked in a two-way tie at third with each scoring 52 points.

Chihiro Ikeda of ITCSI, tipped to do well here following a string of impressive finishes, Sunshine Baraquiel of Southwoods and Kristine Leonen of Del Monte fired 51 points to share fourth place.

The ICTSI trio of Lora Roberto, Carmelette Villaroman and Mariel Candinato are in joint fifth with 49 points each.

The other players in this flight were Sarah Ababa, Lina de Guzman, Cristina Kim, Apple Fuddolin, Rachel Burlas, Sin Joong Choi, Inez del Rosario and Gigi Froakjaer.

Tournament officials Alice Andrada and Jake Ayson predict a down-the-wire fight among the leaders with Shin and Ikeda expected to figure prominently in the last two rounds.*

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