Phalajivin pads lead despite 77

MANILA, Philippines - Thai Amolkan Phalajivin moved closer to gaining a card for this year’s ICTSI Ladies Philippine Golf Tour as she stretched her overnight two-shot lead to three despite a five-over 77 in the second round of the LPGT Qualifying School at the Eagle Ridge Golf and Country Club in Cavite yesterday.

Phalajivin fumbled with a double bogey and four bogeys against a lone birdie for that 77 after a gutsy 73 Wednesday but the 26-year-old shotmaker still firmed up her lead at 150 as all but one succumbed in hot, tough condition at the Aoki layout.

Park You Ra blew a solid two-under card with four holes to go as she hobbled with two bogeys at the finish to settle for a 72, which nevertheless rallied the Korean in joint second with ICTSI amateur team mainstays Mika Fortuna and Sam Martirez at 153.

Park, who skied to an 81 in the opener of the 54-hole elims organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc., bucked an opening-hole bogey with three birdies in a seven-hole stretch from No. 6 but bogeyed Nos. 16 and 18 for a 35-37 card as she put herself in contention for low medal honors in the event sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc.

The young Fortuna, who opened with a 78, matched that frontside 35 with three birdies against two bogeys but had a birdie-less stint at the back marred by a double-bogey mishap on the final hole for a 75.

Martirez, two behind Phalajivin at the start of the round, stumbled with two double bogeys and two bogeys against a birdie for a 41 but recovered with a 37 for a 78.

Korean Kwon Seo Yon carded a 76 for solo fifth at 156 while Kim So Yoon, also of Korea, and local amateur Marie Asia Nocum stood at 159 after a 78 and 79, respectively.

Japanese amateur Yuka Saso made a 79 after an 82 and stayed within target of a 240 total heading to the final 18 holes of the elims which stakes berths for the eight-leg ICTSI LPGT unfolding in April.