Ababa, Piccio bow out of US Am

MANILA, Philippines - Sarah Ababa and Mia Piccio suffered stinging defeats from their respective rivals and dropped out in the first round of the US Women’s Amateur match play at the Charlotte Country Club in Charlotte, North Carolina Tuesday.

Ababa, who finished joint 14th in the 36-hole stroke play elims, fell short of her fightback from three holes down as she bogeyed No. 17 and lost to Calle Nielson of Tennessee, 2&1.

The ICTSI bet birdied Nos. 5 and 11 to move within one hole and stayed in the hunt until No. 16 but missed a six-foot par putt on the par-3 17th.

Piccio, on the other hand, struggled against an in-form Juliana Ortiz of Colombia, who birdied three of the first nine holes to seize control then matched the Bacolod native’s birdie on the 16th to clinch a 3&2 victory.

Beverly Mendoza, the only other RP bet who advanced to the knockout phase, also took a 3&2 defeat to Emily Tubert of California, losing three straight holes from No. 7.

 She birdied No. 14 to go 2-down but bogeyed the 16th to yield the match.