RP ladies drop to 3rd in Santi Cup golf

Chiangrai, Thailand — Thailand had a virtual lock on the title in the first Santi Cup after posting a commanding 15-stroke lead that relegated the Philippines and the rest to a race for the runner-up honors Thursday at the Santiburi Country Club. The Filipina ladies pooled in a 10-over 226 for a three-day total 675 but were dislodged to third by the bets of Malaysia, who assembled a four-over 220 for second-running 674. The Thais, boosted by the three-under 69 of Pinrath Loomboonruang, had an even 216 for 649. Dottie Ardina, one of the country’s strongest bets in the tourney, looked invincible Thursday when she immediate drilled three birdies in four holes. However, she skidded at the back and committed three bogeys on Nos. 7, 9, and 10 that brought her to an even card again. Ardina, 15, came back strong with successive birdies on the 13th and 14th from about 15 feet each to go two-under, only to lose it again on No. 15 (bad second shot) and Nos. 16 and 17 on missed greens. With her 73, she was at 221, five shots behind in the individual race heading to the final 18 Friday. Chihiro Ikeda turned in a four-over 76 and Louise Manalo had a 77 for RP’s 226-675. Anya Tanpinco missed counting for the team again with a 79. “It’s frustrating to finish this way. It’s not the ending I wanted it to be," said Ardina in Filipino. She stepped out of the clubhouse to polish her game around the green, which she said would be the key to her make-or-break bid in Friday’s final round. It was indeed a sorry finish for Ardina, whose bending 30-foot putt for birdie on No. 4 fired up the Filipina shotmaker and the RP delegation headed by NGAP’s Pablo Soon, Jungolf’s Gerry Handog and national team coach Bong Lopez. The RP juniors stayed at fifth in the third Lion City Cup with a 225-687, 22 shots behind Thailand, which geared up for a sweep of the three events in the 49th Southeast Asia Amateur Team Golf Championship with a 665 after a 212. The Thais took a four-shot lead over first-round leader Hong Kong, which had a 669 after a 217 while Singapore (223-672) and Malaysia (222-683) took the next two spots. Jobin Carlos matched par 72 for the RP jungolfers with Edward Reyes and Miguel Tabuena counting for the team with 76 and 77, respectively. Chepe Dulay had an 80 and didn’t count. - Adrian Flores, GMANews.TV