Lady golfers buck odds, show way
NAKHON RATCHASIMA – No need for a Dottie Ardina or a Jayvie Agojo.
Anya Tanpinco and Chihiro Ikeda, fighting on sheer guts, showed they’ve got what it takes to spearhead the national team as the
Tanpinco, veteran of the Doha Asian Games and left to lead the hastily-formed team following the withdrawal of Ardina and Agojo, came away with a two-under par 70 while Ikeda, winner of the recent Singapore Juniors, turned in a one-over 73 for Team RP, which paced Thailand (145) by two shots in the 54-hole tournament.
Tanpinco’s solid start also gave her the individual lead as she led
The
It was an inspiring start for the RP ladies, assembled just last week after the US-based Ardina and Agojo failed to get clearance from the Pendleton Academy in Florida and Pepperdine University, respectively, where they are on golfing scholarships.
But Tanpinco and Ikeda, spearhead of the ICTSI golf squad, proved up to task, bucking the challenge of the Thais and the tough par-72 layout, which bedeviled the games of the other bets.
Tanpinco actually went four under after birdying Nos. 2, 3. 9 and 11 but settled for a 70 after dropping shots on Nos. 13 and 17.
Regina de Guzman, the third member of the team, limped with a 77 and failed to count in the three-to-play, two-to-count format event.
Ikeda shared fourth place with Indon Juriah Suharto at 73, followed by Lidya Ivana Jaya, also of Indonesia, and Yawarn Kawinpakorn at 74, Singapore’s Melissa Sh at 75, Thailand’s P. Phuntumabamrung at 76 and De Guzman at 77.
Indonesia stood four shots of the Philippines in team play, pooling a 147, while Malaysia was nine shots behind at 152 and Laos too far behind at 172.
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