Asistio, Ababa blow title bids

Antonio Asistio and Sarah Ababa blew their title bids with awful final round scores in the fourth Sabah International Junior Masters at the Sabah Golf and Country Club in Sabah late Thursday.

Asistio, who led by three at the start of the round, shot himself in the foot with an 84 as he tumbled from first to third with a 232 at the close of the 54-hole tournament for boys’ 19-21 years old.

Alexander Lau made a 77 under tough playing condition and finished with a 228 to post a three-shot win over Wilson Choo, who had a 231 after a 78.

Ababa also bombed out with an 81, dropping from joint first to second with a 236 in the 13-15 class won by Kelly Tan, who fired a 74 and won by seven shots with a 229.

ICTSI team spearhead Chihiro Ikeda fell short of her title drive as she carded a 75 to settle for runner-up honors with a 231 in the girls’ 16-18 category topped by Sharon Lau, who matched Ikeda’s three-over card for a 228. Louise Manalo finished third with a 233 after a 75.