Thai golfers dominate Samsung int’l tourney

Anusorn Songsem of Thailand closed out with a 75 yesterday to capture overall honors in the Samsung Philippine International Junior Golf Championship at Wack Wack’s east course.

Together with his earlier efforts of 79, 77 and 79, Songsem wound up with 310 to bag the event’s most coveted title.

The Thai ace could have also ruled the Division One in Class A, but a player could only claim one championship, according to Tito Boy Cantada, who organized the event seven years ago.

Thus, Chitratanatham Chakrit, Songsem’s compatriot, won that division after shooting a final round 80 to go with his earlier efforts of 77, 80 and 74 for 311.

Songsem and Chakrit later went on to capture the team trophy with 621 with Gan Hsien Loong Andy and Ng Choo Sian Daniel pooling a 652 to power Malaysia to second.

Carlos Fabregas closed out with an 81 to give the Philippines one of its four titles with 336. Second was Cebu’s Edsel Tan with 88 and 347, followed by Hong Kong’s Alvin Cheung with 85 and 349.

The Philippines’ Maria Andrea Unson birdied the second extra hole to nip compatriot Nicole Clara Serapio in the sudden death for the 12-and-under girls’ Division Two diadem.

Unson had an 83 and Serapio scored a 78 to force the sudden death at 244 in the four-day event with Samsung as the title sponsor. Other backers were Cebu Pacific, Pagcor, Pacsports, Morella Tours, Herma Group of Companies, Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co., Toyota Otis, Philippine Flour Mills, Gilberto Duavit, Takanobu Taira, Airlift Asia Inc., Raul Jorge, Sysu International, Holiday Inn Galleria Manila, Triplex Tent and Golf Gallery.

The Philippines’ Jenz Tecson made a 77 to win second place for the second straight time in Class A‘s Division One with 316. Teammate Matthew Manotoc made an 88 to finish second in Division II.

Paolo Garcia of the Philippines carded an 83 to run away with the special division championship with 333. Second was Kenneth Callo also of the Philippines with an 84 and 345.

Australia’s Frances Bondad shot a 75 to go with her earlier efforts of 76 and 80 to rule the girls’ 13-17 division with 231. Malaysia’s Tze Jean Chua carded a 73 for 233 to place second.

Thailand’s Phuntmabamrung Panpak made a 67 to win the 12 and under girls’ Division One via playoff over the Philippines’ Crystal Superal, who shot a 72 to wind up with 211.

Vasadani Vijay of Cebu scored an 88 to top Division Two in the boys’ Class D with 264 while Taiwan’s Kao Teng made a 91 to rule Division One with 219.

Pan Jeng Chung of Taiwan carded a 77 to win the Class C Division One trophy with 236 while Hong Kong’s Steven Lam fired a 91 for 279 to bag the Division Two title.