PHL lady golfers face daunting task of defending SEA Games gold

JAKARTA, Indonesia—The Philippine ladies have entered the top three after the second round of the 26th Southeast Asian Games' golf competitions Wednesday although they face a daunting task of making it a consecutive victory with Thailand pulling away with an eight-stroke advantage. The duo of Chihiro Ikeda and Dottie Ardina pieced together two 74s for 148 and a two-day haul of 295 to join Indonesia at third place. Thailand, with Pinrath Loonboonruang's 70 and Pannita Yusabai's 74, grabbed the lead with a 287 total followed by Malaysia’s 293 after a 151. Although the Thai girls seem to be in control, it is still mathematically possible for defending champion Philippines to catch up. In the 2009 Laos SEA Games in Vientiane, the Bong Lopez-coached girls' squad stared at a five-point deficit but still won it over Thailand by one shot. It will now be up to Ikeda, Ardina, and Andrea Unson, who carded an 80 Wednesday, to pull off a come-from-behind win at the Jagorawi Golf and Country Club's New Course's tree-lined fairways and tall roughs around the green which has been punishing not only the women but the men. "It will be a nothing-to-lose but everything-to-gain scenario. There's more pressure on Thailand and Malaysia to maintain the lead than it is to us. I hope history favors us and repeats itself," Lopez said. Ikeda, the reigning individual gold medalist in women's golf, remained at third with 146, four adrift from Loonboonruang's 140 and Malaysian Kelly Tan's 144. In men's play, the Philippines also placed third in standings, dislodging Malaysia. Thailand is still in the driver's seat with a 218-651. Host Indonesia was next with a 218-659. Jobim Carlos took the lead role in the Filipino's attack with a one-under 71 while Rupert Zaragosa submitted a 73. The 77 of either Art Arbole or Clyde Mondilla counted for the Philippines (221-663) in the four-to-play, three-to-count system. Zaragosa is in a tie with Thai Rattanon Wannasric for the individual lead with even par 216s. "We could be looking at the silver medal for the team. Zaragosa has a pretty good chance of getting the individual gold," said National Golf Association of the Philippines (NGAP) director Pablo Soon. — Adrian Flores/JVP, GMA News