Ababa ends up third in FCWT

MANILA, Philippines - Sarah Ababa failed to cash in on her rivals’ poor form as she sputtered with a six-over 79 and finished third in the FCWT San Ramon Open ruled by Paloma Martinez of Mexico at the San Ramon Golf Club in California Sunday.

Ababa misjudged an approach shot on the par-5 18th and took a triple-bogey after going out-of-bound on her third shot then held her own with a one-over par at the front for that 79 and 36-hole haul of 155.

That was five shots behind Martinez, who also shot herself in the foot with a 79 under tough playing condition but held on to nip American Kendall Prince by two to win the crown. Prince also groped for form and wound up with a 78 for a 152.

The ICTSI-backed Ababa rallied from five strokes back to stay in contention with a slew of pars but three-putted No. 15 and missed the green on the 17th for another bogey. But it was her poor club selection on the 18th that ruined her bid as she opted for an 8-iron instead of a wedge shot to get it past the big hazard. She overshot the green for an OB and an eight.