Thais grab lead over Phl squads in Montecillo Cup

MANILA, Philippines - Thailand pooled a 139 as it swept past Team Phl II in the girls’ team competition in the second round of the Montecillo Junior Golf Championship at the windy Palmer layout of the Orchard Golf and Country Club.

Benyapa Niphatsophon shot 67 and Pannarat Thanapolboonyaras matched par 72 for that 139 and a 293 as the Thais seized a three-stroke lead over the hosts, who wavered with a 149 for a 296.

ICTSI’s Princess Superal struggled a bit on her home course, hobbling with a 76 while teammate Bianca Pagdanganan had a 73 for Team Phl II’s 149 output.

In men’s play, Thailand, behind Sarit Suwannarut’s 66 and Chanachok Dejpiratanamongkol’s 78 amassed a 144 for 290 to grab the lead from Team Phl II (Clyde Mondilla 73 and Christopher Arevalo 75), which put in a 148 for 294.

Erstwhile leader Team Phl I of Gio Gandionco (73) and Raymart Tolentino (77) brought together a 150 for 295 while Team Phl III, of LJ Go and Carlos Packing, was fourth with 154 for 310.

Superal dropped five shots, including two straight on Nos. 10 and 11 then on No. 14 and 15 in the back nine, and another on the first after missing a par-save putt from 16 feet to end up with a four-over 76.

 Superal’s performance was a far cry from the superb 68 she scored in the opener on Tuesday. She failed to save bogey on her putts at the 10th from about two pins and at the 11th from about eight feet. At the 14th, she bungled a downhill putt from about four feet.

 The 14-year-old’s saving grace happened on the second hole, where she drained a five-footer for birdie.

 “I really didn’t play bad today. It’s just that my putting was off, unlike in the first round. The Thai’s lead is not that big. There are plenty of chances to catch up,” said Superal, the runner of the recent Philippine Ladies Amateur Open.

 Fancied Andrea Unson and Miya Legaspi carded a 71 and 73, respectively, for Team Phl I’s 144 for 303, to occupy the third spot in the four-day event sponsored by ICTSI, Pancake House, Teriyaki Boy, Sizzling Pepper, Philippine Airlines, Pioneer Insurance and McDonald’s.

 Sarah Jane Ababa (78) and Samantha Martirez (77) collected a 155 for 309 in the tournament also backed by Hidden Springs, Julie’s Bake Shop, Inquirer Golf Monthly, Friends of JGFP, Duty Free Philippines, R&A, and the National Golf Association of the Philippines (NGAP).