Constantino falters at finish, trails by eight after 72
MANILA, Philippines — Harmie Constantino fought through a challenging opening round but found herself with plenty of ground to make up after settling for an even-par 72 at the start of the Chonburi Ladies Championship at the Treasure Hill Golf Club in Chonburi, Thailand on Wednesday.
The Filipina campaigner appeared headed for a promising start against a field dominated by Thai standouts before costly late miscues left her tied for 25th, eight strokes behind local ace Pattharat Rattanawan, who sizzled with a tournament-best eight-under 64.
Constantino played steady golf early, offsetting a birdie with a bogey on the front nine for an even-par 36. The multi-titled Ladies Philippine Golf Tour campaigner gathered momentum on the back side with birdies on Nos. 12 and 14, briefly moving into contention and looking increasingly comfortable on the par-72 layout.
However, the round unraveled over the closing stretch. A bogey on the par-5 16th halted her charge, and another dropped shot on the par-3 next erased her gains, forcing her to settle for a pair of 36s.
The late stumble left Constantino facing a significant deficit heading into the second round, although the tournament remains wide open with two rounds still to play.
Rattanawan, meanwhile, delivered a masterclass in recovery and shot-making. After an early bogey on the third hole, the Thai ace caught fire with three straight birdies before adding another on the ninth to make the turn in 33.
She continued her blistering pace on the back nine, birdieing the par-5 12th before stringing together another three-birdie burst from No. 14. A birdie on the closing hole capped a spectacular nine-birdie performance that gave her a two-shot cushion over the rest of the field.
Amateur Chonpansa Tawinsang emerged as Rattanawan's closest pursuer after firing a 66. Unfazed by competing against seasoned pros, Tawinsang birdied Nos. 5 and 6, then rebounded from a bogey on the 10th with birdies on Nos. 12, 14 and 15 to complete an impressive round.
Sharing third place at 68 were Kan Bunnabodee, Napabhach Boon-in and fellow amateur Suritpreeya Pruksanbubal, while Angel Thongaram, Navaporn Soontreeyapas, Pimpisa Sisutham, Onkanok Soisuwan and amateur Kwannapat Suan-in carded identical 69s to remain within striking distance.
Constantino is the lone Filipina competing this week after compatriots Chanelle Avaricio, Daniella Uy, Florence Bisera, Mafy Singson and Marvi Monsalve opted to skip the tournament following their campaign in the Singha Ladies Open in Bangkok last month.
In that event, Constantino finished tied for 35th, while Avaricio emerged as the top-performing Filipina with a share of eighth place.
- Latest
- Trending
