Pinays survive Thais charge

HONG KONG – Chihiro Ikeda and Dottie Ardina checked their skid and survived Thailand’s backside charge with clutch birdies as the Philippines salvaged a one-under 209 to keep a two-stroke lead halfway through the Santi Cup at the Clearwater Bay Golf and Country Club here yesterday.

Ikeda and Ardina outgunned their respective Thai rivals as the top ICTSI-backed shotmakers shot 67 and 69, respectively, against Panitta Yusabai (68) and Wad Phaewchimpee (71). But Thailand’s third player Pinrath Loomboonruang made a 69 and gained on the Phl’s other scorer Andie Unson, who struggled a bit with a three-over 73.

Still, with a 36-hole haul of 416, the Philippines remained on top although the three-peat seeking Thailand closed in with a 418 after a 208 to set up a two-team duel in the last 36 holes. Hong Kong stood 14 shots behind at 430 after a 213 followed by Malaysia (221-442), Singapore (221-445) and Indonesia (231-457).

Jayvie Agojo didn’t count for the second straight time with a 77.

The Pinays actually padded their overnight three-shot lead to six after nine holes as Ikeda made a 32, Ardina turned in a 34 and Unson matched par 35. But they sputtered in the early going at the back with Ikeda making two bogeys against a birdie and a slew of regulation pars before holing out with a birdie on the par-5 18th.

Ardina, who led the team’s charge with a 68 in the first round, bogeyed Nos. 10 and 12 but charged back with birdies on Nos. 16 and 18 for that 69.

Unson never recovered from a double-bogey on the par-3 11th and bogeyed the next although she held on with a run of pars for a 38 and a 73.

“Their experience showed in the closing holes, making birdies to get back into the groove and keep the team ahead,” said ICTSI team coach Bong Lopez. “I hope they would learn from their mistakes and toughen up in the last two days because the Thais are also playing solid.”

“I knew we can score here but I lost my rhythm at the back,” said Ikeda, who with Ardina’s identical 137 totals were one off Loombunruang’s 136 in the individual race.

Meanwhile, the defending champion junior squad floundered with a horrendous 17-over 227 and fell 16 strokes behind Thailand in the Lion City Cup.

Gio Gandionco made a four-over 74, Rupert Zaragoza struggled with a 75 and Andres Saldaña had a 78.

Clyde Mondilla, the top scorer in the first round with a 71, didn’t fare with a 79.

It was a sorry round indeed for the Filipino junior players, who started the day just three behind the Thais after a decent 218 but will start today’s third round 16 strokes adrift with a 445 aggregate and in fifth place in a field of six.

Led by reigning Vietnam Amateur Open champion Chanchok Dejpiratanamongkol and last year’s Thai Junior champion Pariwat Pinsawat’s 71s and Somprad Rattansuwan’s 72, Thailand pooled a 214 for a 429 and posted a 10-shot lead over new pursuers Indonesia, which assembled a 439, and Malaysia, which shot the day’s best output of 213, for 439s.

Singapore also bounced back from a 227 with a 215 to move up to fourth at 442, relegating the Philippines, which beat Thailand by four to win last year’s crown in Malaysia, to second to last.

The Putra Cup team, dead last after the first round of the Putra Cup, remained in the cellar at 443 after a 222 as Zanie Boy Gialon hit a 71, Lloyd Go groped with a 75 and Art Arbole made a 76. They stood 19 shots off new leader Hong Kong, which fired a 207 for a 424, one ahead of erstwhile leader Indonesia, which shot a 215 for a 425.

Malaysia moved up to third with a 427 after a 208 while Singapore dropped to fourth at 429 after a 214 followed by Myanmar (215-434) and defending champion Thailand (219-439).

The three-team Phl contingent’s campaign in the event is sanctioned by the National Golf Association of the Phils. and supported by ICTSI and the Philippine Sports Commission. The other coaches are Carito Villaroman (men’s) and Boyet Zaragoza (juniors) with NGAP’s head for golf development Tommy Manotoc as head of delegation.