Ramos cops title via tiebreak

Veteran internationalist AR Ramos provided the saving grace for the beleaguered Filipinos in the 29th Asia Pacific Junior Golf Championship yesterday by clinching the boys Class C (11-12 years) crown at the expense of compatriot Angelo Gandionco.

The 11-year-old Ramos, a former US Kids titlist, shot a six-over-par 78 at Sherwood Hills in Trece Martirez, Cavite, to match Cebu-based Gandionco’s effort and three-round total of 225, necessitating a countback.

Atoning for his runner-up finish in last year’s edition in Hong Kong, Ramos, an incoming Grade Six student at La Salle Green Hills eventually prevailed with a last nine score of 38 against Gandionco’s 40.

Thai Julamool Korntawach provided anxious moments when he rallied with a 74, finishing just two shots off the Filipinos at 227.

While Korntawach fell short, other Thais struck in the lower divisions of the 10-nation event organized by the Jungolf Foundation of the Philippines.

Ariya Jutanugarn ran away with the girls Class C title following a 71 and a 208 aggregate, a whopping 11 shots ahead of the Philippines’ Daniella Uy, who carded a 75 for 219

Sutavee Chanachai followed suit, pouncing on the third round collapse of local bets Mia Legaspi and Rachita Vasandani to cop the girls Class D crown. Chanachai fired a 75 for a 232 total, nine shots ahead of Legaspi, who skied to an 84 for 241, and Vasandani, who shot her third straight 83 for 249.

Tournament supporters are San Miguel Corp., Pagcor, Diamond Motors, Victory Coach Inc., Southwoods Manor, Smart, Microsoft, Golden Oats, Pancake House, GMaxsports, De La Paz trophy, Callaway/Electrobus Consolidated and Coca-Cola.

 Resurgent Chinese Taipei shared third round honors to create a three-way battle for the boys team title with pacesetters Thailand and India.

The Taiwanese, with Huang Tao and Yao Gung-chien turning in 71s and Kao Teng firing a 72 pooled a 214, the same score of the Koreans, to move within three shots off the Thais and just two off the Indians going into the final round.

Thailand scored a 219 for a 54-hole total of 665 while India netted a 218 for a 656 aggregate. The Malaysians were at fourth following a 219-667, towing along the Koreans at 667 and the Filipinos, who had a 689 after a 229 in the four-to-play, three-to-count event.

Hong Kong and Guam occupied the cellar with a 236-709 and a 248-731, respectively.

It was the same story in the girls team competition, with the Thais virtually assured of the crown following a 142 and a two-round total of 281.

The Thais are a whopping nine shots ahead of the South Koreans, who netted another 145 for 290 in the three-to-play, two-to-count 54-hole event.

In the premiere boys Class A, Thai Khrongpa Thanyakorn, Malaysian Mohammad Arie Irawan Ahmad and Indian Abhijit Chanda were locked in a tight battle for the title.

Thanyakorn shot a 75, allowing Irawan (72) and Chanda (71) to catch up with him at 214.

John Kier Abdon was the highest placed Filipino with a 72 and 221, followed by Bino dela Paz with a 78-233.

South Korean Lee Min-young tallied a 75 and found herself just a stroke up on Thai Patcharajutar Kongkraphan, who turned in a 74. Lee was at 143 and Kongkraphan at 144.  Louise Manalo (74) and reigning Philippine Ladies titlist Chihiro Ikeda (76) were too far to challenge at 150. 

The third round scores:

Class A Boys: 214 Khrongpa Thanyakorn (Tha) 66-73-75, Mohammad Arie Irawan Ahmad (Malaysia) 72-70-72, 143 Abhijit Chadha (Ind) 70-73-71;Girls-143 Lee Min-young (Kor) 68-75, 144 Patcharajutar Kongkraphan (Tha) 70-74, 145 Hiseh Yu-ling 76-69

Class B: Boys-216 Chikkarangappa S (Ind) 67-76-73, 219 Ashbeer Singh Saini (Ind) 73-71-75, 221 Songpaiboon Bhurinat (Tha) 75-73-73;Girls-138 Moriya Jutanuragarn (Tha) 67-71, 151 Kim Ji Hee (Kor) 80-71, 158 Maan Legaspi (RP) 75-83

Class C: Boys-225 AR Ramos (RP) 73-74-78, Angelo Gandionco (RP) 75-72-78, 227 Julamool Korntawach (Tha) 76-77-74; Girls- 208 Ariya Jutanugarn (Thailand) 69-68-71, 219 Daniella Uy (RP) 70-74-75, 230 Singh Gurbani 75-73-82

Class D: Boys-140 Yusa Bai Piyachad (Tha) 66-74, 145 Rupert Zaragosa 75-70, 150 Justin Dy (RP) 77-73; Girls - 232 Sutavee Chanachai (Tha) 80-77-75, 241 Mia Legaspi 77-80-84, 249 Rachita Vasandani (RP) 83-83-83.