Malixi ties for 2nd in Royal Junior

MANILA, Philippines – Rianne Malixi failed to mount a final round charge and ended up joint second with a 75 as Saito Aisa rolled to a three-stroke victory with a closing 72 in The Royal Junior tournament in Ibaraki, Japan Sunday.

Just a stroke behind Aisa after 36 holes, Malixi stayed within striking distance after both players matched frontside 38s. But while the former gained crucial strokes and fired a 34 at the back of the Royal Golf Club, the Filipina shotmaker missed her chances and faltered with a 37 and wound up with a 75.

Aisa’s even-par 72 gave her a 54-hole total of 220 as she claimed a commanding victory over Malixi, India’s Avani Prashanth and compatriot Gion Miina, who all assembled 223s. Prashanth shot a 74 while Miina closed out with the day’s best 71.

Malixi actually led one of the region’s premier junior championship in Day One with a 72 but slipped to joint second with a 76 Saturday.

Still, the ICTSI-backed ace had nurtured hopes of pulling off a final round charge but struggled trying to find her rhythm at the front and failed to recover in the last nine holes.

She also led the event last year but blew a two-stroke lead with one hole left with a closing triple-bogey and wound up joint third instead.