Pinays melt down, lose to Thais by 1

HONG KONG – The national ladies team wilted under pressure and the scorching heat and hobbled home with its worst-ever output of 224, enabling Thailand to snatch a one-stroke victory with a 220 and extend its reign in the Santi Cup at the Clearwater Bay Golf and Country Club here yesterday.

Dottie Ardina bogeyed No. 17 for a two-over 72, which turned out to be the team’s best result in a punishing day at the up-and-down layout as Andie Unson made a 75 while Chihiro Ikeda blew it all at the back with a 41 for a 77.

Jayvie Agojo, who matched par-70 in the third round, skied to a 78 and didn’t count.

Counting their earlier rounds of 207, 209, 213, the Philippines, which led by three heading to the final day and seven with six holes to play, wound up with an 853 and lost by one.

Thailand didn’t do well either, assembling a 219 after a 210, 208, 214. But the Thais pounced on the Pinays’ backside collapse with Pavarisa Yoktuan and Panitta Yusabai clinching the win with final hole birdies.

Pinrath Loomboonruang, playing in the final flight with Ardina, holed out with a bogey to make it a one-shot win as she matched Ardina’s 72 while Yoktuan and Yusabai carded a 73 and 75, respectively, for a 220 and an 852 aggregate.

The Thais moved within one after nine holes but the Filipinas   surged to a running seven-shot lead after the top two Phl scorers totaled one-over par before Ikeda stumbled with a double-bogey on No. 13.

Thailand started the backside with a combined seven-over card but re-grouped as Loomboonruang and Phaewchimplee both birdied No. 15 to bounce back.

Ikeda earlier bogeyed No. 14 which Agojo double-bogeyed before the latter dropped two more strokes in the last four holes and was scratched out.

“We were up by 7 before Ikeda made a double-bogey on No. 13. They simply collapsed,” rued national team coach Bong Lopez. “We just gave it to them.”

It was a sorry fold-up by the Filipinas, whose campaign was sanctioned by the National Golf Association of the Phils. and supported by ICTSI and the Philippine Sports Commission, who took the lead right in the first round and kept it with gutsy rounds in the next two days only to disintegrate when the going got tough.

Ardina, who earlier strung up impressive rounds of 68, 69, 69, also missed clinching the individual honors with a 277, losing by one to Loomboonruang, who had a 276.

Malaysia finished a far third at 877 after a 223 while Hong Kong wound up fourth with a 221 for an 880 followed by Singapore (215-883) and Indonesia (233-916).

Meanwhile, the Phl juniors team made a 234 and finished fourth in the Lion City Cup topped by Thailand, which had an 869 after a 220, beating Malaysia (220-872) by three. Indonesia placed third with an 888 after a 226 followed by Singapore (233-904) and Hong Kong (245-935).

Andres Saldaña’s 77 became the Phl’s best score as Gio Gandionco had a 78 and Rupert Zaragoza made a 79. Clyde Mondilla was out with an 80 in the event the Filipinos ruled in Malaysia last year.

The Putra Cup team of Zanie Boy Gialon (71), John Kier Abdon (75) and Art Arbole (75) wound up sixth in a field of seven, pooling a final round 221 for an 883, nipping Myanmar (228-885).

Singapore held off Hong Kong, 216-218, to clinch the crown with an 846 with the hosts setting for runner-up with an 850. Indonesia placed third with an 860 after a 219 followed by Malaysia (220-862) and dethroned champion Thailand (221-880).