Eagle-eyed Wisut wins Mercedes-Benz Masters

Michael Bibat shot a two-under par 70 and finished tied for fifth with fellow RP bet Marvin Dumandan in the Mercedes-Benz Masters Vietnam topped by Thai Wisut Artjanawat at the Van Tri Golf Club in Hanoi yesterday.

Bibat and Dumandan, who matched par 72, wound up with 284s, four shots behind Artjanawat, who shot back-to-back eagles from No. 10 to fire a 66 and beat compatriot Pavit Tangkamolprasert by one with a 280.

Tangkamolprasert shot a 69 and a 281 to finish second while Thais Kwanchai Tannin and Pravee Visalkit took third and fourth places with 72-282 and 73-283, respectively.

Cassius Casas, winner of the B-Ing Championship who took the first round lead with a 69, carded a 71 and finished seventh with a 285.

But the day belonged to Artjanawat, who started the round five shots back but fought back with a sizzling stint at the back that also featured birdies on 13 and 15.

 Over in China, Chihiro Ikeda rallied with a two-under par 70 but came up short by one stroke to finish second to Zhang Yu-yang in the China Women’s Amateur at the Nanhai Peach Garden Golf Club in Foshan City, Guangzhou yesterday.

Ikeda, who started the round five shots behind Chinese Gu Guo-yan, save her best for last but her 70, which featured three birdies against a bogey, proved not enough to net her the crown.

Zhang matched Ikeda’s 70 to snatch the title at 226 with the ICTSI bet winding up with a 227.

Gu skied to a 77 and slid to third with a 229.

Louise Manalo carded a 75 and wound up ninth with a 236 while teammates Sarah Ababa (76) and Anya Tanpinco (76) finished with 239 and 241, respectively.