Cuppers blow lead but RP juniors pull away

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines blew a six-shot lead in the Putra Cup but remained in command in the Lion City Cup behind its gutsy junior squad while gaining ground in the Santi Cup in the second day of action at the Royal Selangor Golf Club in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia yesterday.

Mhark Fernando slowed down with a 73 after a 69 as Team RP sputtered with a 224 after a 214 for a 438, dropping to second behind a charging Thailand side, which grabbed the lead at 437 after a 217.

Singapore matched RP’s first round 214 as it moved up to third with a 443 while Malaysia took fourth spot with a 452 after a 223 followed by Indonesia (221-454), Myanmar (230-458), Hong Kong (240-480) and Laos (248-495) in that order.

Miguel Tabuena struggled with a 76 after a 72 but Jessie Balasabas counted with a 75 as Jhonnel Ababa groped for form with a 79 in the four-to-play, three-to-count format event.

Poom Saksankin fired a 69 for Thailand, which also drew a 73 from Suparkorn Utaipat and a 75 from Wasin Sripattranusorn while Gregory Foo shot the tournament best of 68 for Singapore, which also got a 72 from Joshua Shou and a 74 from Tze Huang Choo.

The RP juniors, meanwhile, padded its overnight lead of four to six with a 221 as it assembled a 36-hole of 447, six shots clear of Thailand, which had a 453 after a 223. Malaysia stood at third with a 225-457 followed by Singapore (227-458), Indonesia (227-461), Hong Kong (237-471) and Myanmar (245-482).

The RP ladies also bounced back into contention after an awful start as it shot a 221-448 to move within three shots off Thailand, which struggled with a 229 after a 216 for a 445.

Malaysia matched RP’s 221 to remain tied for second while Indonesia made a 228 for fourth at 462 followed by Myanmar (235-469), Singapore (240-470) and Hong Kong (240-482).

“It was a tough day for the men’s team but I’m confident they would recover in the last two days,” said NGAP president Leandro Mendoza. “With our junior team sustaining its form and the ladies squad fighting back, we could even aspire for a sweep.”

The Thais did the trick last year when they dominated the Lion and Santi Cups and outlasted the Singaporeans for the Putra Cup crown in Chiangrai.

The RP ladies, meanwhile, rebounded from a harrowing first round stint as it pooled a 221 then watched Thailand fumble with a 229 to wheel back into contention in the Santi Cup.

Andie Unson, who shared the scoring honors with Irina Gabasa with 75s in Team RP’s atrocious 227 output in the first round, carded a 73 while Gabasa and ICTSI teammates Dottie Ardina and Chihiro Ikeda all turned in 74s with one dropped from the scoring in the four-to-play, three-to-count format event.

But the 221 proved enough to put the Filipinas back in the title hunt, moving within three strokes off Thailand after falling by 11 strokes after 18 holes.

The Thais skied to a 229 after an impressive 216 for a 445, just three shot ahead of the charging Philippines and Malaysia, which remained tied at second with 448s. The hosts matched the Pinays 221 output.

The 15-year-old Unson, who ruled the AccuSport Championship in North Carolina, the San Diego Junior Masters and the Optimist International Junior tournament early in the year, also moved within two strokes off Thai veteran Yupaporn Kawinpakorn in the individual race, assembling a 36-hole aggregate of 148. Kawinpakorn remained in the lead with a 146.