Tanpinco cards 73, posts whopping 8-shot lead

JR Tanpinco shot a one-over par 73 yesterday to virtually retain the Special Division crown in the fifth Philippine International Junior Golf Championship at Wack Wack’s east course.

Tanpinco, 20, fired three birdies against four bogeys for a round of 36-37 as he assembled a 54-hole aggregate of 225 for an eight-stroke lead over Tepphatud Sanawong of Thailand. Sanawong had a 76-233.

Tanpinco’s sister Anya, 18, likewise moved closer to the crown in the girls’ Special Division as she shot an 80 despite playing the last eight holes to wrest the lead by two with 171.

But compatriot Jenz Tecson continued to struggle as he fumbled with an 84 and lost his share of the Class A lead with a 245.

With Tecson playing his worst round so far, South Korea’s Kim Do Hyung shot a 76 and Panuwat Muenlek of Thailand carded an 81 to tie for the Class A lead with 242.

Thailand banked on Toffy Mitrpanont’s 79 and Sanawong’s 76 to wrest the lead in the team event with 320. Second was Philippines-Bacolod on the 321 of the Tanpincos.