MANILA, Philippines – Dante Becierra shot one of the day’s two best scores of three-under par 69 to salvage sixth place in the 107th Malaysian Amateur Open Golf Championship ruled by Thai Thanyayon Khrongpa at the Sarawak Golf Club in Kuching, Malaysia late Sunday.
Becierra, last year’s runner-up and the former Hong Kong Am Open champion, fought back from 11 strokes down to close within three off Khrongpa but the top ICTSI-backed bet ran out of holes and settled for sixth place with a 290 aggregate.
Khrongpa wavered in the final round and skied to a 77 but was lucky enough to snatch a one-shot victory over Haziq Hamizan of Malaysia who also struggled with a 75.
The Thai bet wound up with a 287 while Hamizan fell short of his bid with a 288.
Rashid Khan of India shot the day’s other 69 as he grabbed a share of third place at 289 with Vasin Sripattranusom of Thailand (76) and Sri Lanka’s Mithun Perera (72).
ICTSI’s Antonio Asistio and Peter Villaber matched par 72s and finished joint ninth with Sabah Am champion Jhonnel Ababa, who also had a 72 for 293.