Last-hole slip drops RP to third

BANGKOK – Juvic Pagunsan, the reigning SEA Games individual champion, had a triple bogey on the final hole yesterday as the Philippines stumbled to third place in the Thailand Amateur Open golf tournament at the Kiarti Thanee Country Club course here.

The Filipinos led Thailand and Korea by a stroke heading to the par-5 final hole. But Pagunsan hit his drive into the water and again on his second shot for a costly seven that ruined the RP campaign.

Thailand went on to sweep both the team and individual awards, beating Korea by one and the Filipinos by three with a 563 total.

Prom Meesawat took the individual title in runaway fashion, winning over Pagunsan and Hye Dong Kim by nine shots with four consecutive rounds in the 60s, including a final-day 67 for 268.

Pagunsan had a last-day 72 while Marlon Dizon scored 71 to place 10th in the individual category.

Malaysia wound up fourth, Taiwan fifth, Thailand B sixth, India seventh, Thailand-South eighth, Thailand-North ninth and Thailand North-East 10th.