Ababa four shots behind leader in World Juniors golf bash

JAKARTA —The Philippines’ Sarah Jane Ababa overcame the tough Pik course to score an even par 72 and secured the second spot in the Class A girls’ division of the World Junior World Championships 2010 at the Damai Indah Golf Club. The Filipina is four strokes behind the leader, Thailand’s Chirapat Jao-Javanil’s, who scored a four-under-par 68. Ababa canned a birdie on the fourth hole which was quickly erased on the seventh where she bogeyed the par-three hole. She made two straight birdies on Nos. 11 and 12 to go two-under and catch up with Javanil. A back-breaking double bogey on the finishing hole reeled back Ababa to second position. “It was a too bad it had to happen on the final hole. I’m still satisfied with my game. I have not played this well in a long, long while," said Ababa, who is coming off a successful campaign in the Singapore Ladies Amateur Open last week. Following Javanil and Ababa were South Africa’s Connie Chen (73) and Malaysia’s Aretha Pan Herng (74). Filipina Andrea Unson carded a four-over 76 to stay within title sight. Unson, who was also part of the Singapore gig, dropped a shot at the second hole. In the boys’ Class A division, Natiphong Srithong of Thailand was on top with an even 72. Indonesian Clement Erio submitted a 73 followed by the Netherlands’ Nicholas Smits 74, Malaysian Abdul Rahim Bin Abang Abdul Rahman 76 and Filipino Bino dela Paz 76. Jobim Carlos wound up with a 77 while Clyde Mondilla had 80. - RCJ/ Adrian Flores, GMANews.TV