Chiu, Abby waver but remain on top

MANILA, Philippines - Chiu Han-ting slowed down with a 72 but kept a one-stroke lead over Thai Boonma Danthai in boys’ Class A while Abby Arevalo also remained on top of girls’ Class B despite a 78 in the second day of the third Philippine Junior Golf Championship (The Montecillo) at the Orchard Golf and Country Club in Dasmariñas, Cavite yesterday.

Chiu, who fired a 70 Tuesday, tallied a 142 while Boonma charged back with a 70 for a 143 at the Palmer course.

Top Filipino bet Andres Saldaña recovered from an opening 73 with a 72 but stood three shots off Chiu with a 145 in the tournament held in honor of the late Jungolf founder Amalia “Mommy Maling” Montecillo and backed by ICTSI, Pancake House Group of Companies, Sizzling Pepper, Teriyaki Boy, Philippine Golf Foundation, Duty Free Phils., McDonald’s, Fila, Pacsports, Golf Depot, PAL and Inquirer Golf.

In the girls’ Class A, Thailand’s Supamas Sangchan struggled in tough condition and hobbled with a four-over 76 but stayed in control with a 146, nine ahead of Camp Aguinaldo’s Bianca Pagdanganan (78) and Singaporean Amanda Tan, who both had 155s after a 78 and 76, respectively.

Princess Superal of the ICTSI squad continued to grope for form, carding a 77 for a 156 and a share of fourth at 156, 10 strokes off the lead. Indonesia’s Gayrilla Arya also had a 156 after a 78 in the annual tournament organized by the Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines (JGFP) headed by president Luigi Tabuena and chair Gerry Handog.

Arevalo, one of the new members of Team ICTSI, carded a six-over 78 to keep a one-shot lead over Miya Legaspi, who had a 150 after a 79.

Pauline del Rosario (80), LK Go (78) and Guam’s Nalathai Vongjalorn (82) all had 162s.

Chinese Chun An-yu matched par 72 for the second straight day for a 144 to pull away by seven over countryman Wang Wei-hsuan (80) and Kristofer Arevalo (79), who had 151s.