Thailand gains upperhand

LIPA CITY, Batangas, Philippines – Thailand pounced on the Philippines’ fold-up in a windy day here at Mt. Malarayat yesterday and made the most of its four-over 220 output to wrest a three-stroke lead over the hosts in the third round of The Montecillo Junior Golf Team Championships yesterday.

Rattanon Wannasrichan and Natipong Srithong took over for the Thais when their top gun Poom Saksansin failed to count with a 75, turning in identical one-over 73s while Sompard Rattanasuwan added a 74 to help lift the team to the lead at 657 heading into the final round of the event.

After back-to-back under par rounds (71-69) in the rain, Jobim Carlos stumbled with a two-over 74 in windy condition as the Philippines fumbled with a 225 and tumbled down to second at 660.

Miguel Tabuena also failed to sustain his previous 71 and hobbled with a 75 while reigning national champion Clyde Mondilla continued to grope for form and made a 76.

Angelo Jose Gandionco didn’t count with a 78.

“The wind was just strong today (yesterday) and it bothered me somehow,” said Carlos. “But I’ll try to make up for it with a stronger effort tomorrow (today) because I really want the team to win.”

While the boys’ Phl Team 1 slid, the Phl ladies held sway as ICTSI mainstays Andrea Unson and Sarah Jane Ababa carded a pair of 75s for a 150 and a two-day aggregate of 298, hiking their lead to six shots over Thailand.

The Thais drew a 74 from Pinrath Loomboonruang and a 75 from Pavarisa Yoktuan for a 149 and a 304 as they dislodged erstwhile second running Phl 2 in the event organized by the Junior Golf Foundation of the Phils. headed by Gerry Handog and chaired by Luigi Tabuena and sanctioned by Royal and Ancient in St. Andrews, Scotland.

Phl 2 got two 77s from Princess Superal and Daniella Uy as it slipped to third with a 305.

For a while, Carlos appeared headed for another under-par round, making the turn at 35, only to reel back with bogeys and a double-bogey on No. 15, which he three-putted, for a 39.

The bespectacled Filipino, however, pulled away in the individual race with a 214, six shots clear off Wannasrichan, who had a 220.

Tabuena, set to turn pro two weeks from now in the Sail Open of the Asian Tour in India, holed out with back-to-back birdies to save a round of 75 marred by double bogeys on Nos. 4 and 7.

“I just couldn’t give up because I’m thinking of the team so every shot counts from here on,” said the 16-year-old Tabuena.

“Hopefully I’ll play better in the last round because I really want to help the team and win this one,” he said.

Nicklaus Chiam, Melvin Chew and Joshua Ho scored 74, 75 and 76, respectively, as Singapore matched Phl’s 225 to remain in third at 668 while Kenneth Kano fired a 71 as Phl 2, which also drew a 77 from Rupert Zaragosa and a 78 from JP de Claro, totaled a 694.

Chinese Taipei got two 79s from Huang Shu Ya and Lin Ding Sheng and an 83 from Liu Len Hung for a 724 while Guam, which drew 81, 82 and 83 from Sean Hua, Ryan Christensen and Redge Camacho, respectively, had a 748.

The event is sponsored by the International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI), Pancake House, Sizzlin Pepper, Teriyaki Boy, Chevrolet, Philippine Airlines, Friends of Jungolf, Golf Depot, San Miguel Corp., Coca- Cola Bottlers, Duty Free, PacSports, MJ Carr Golf Management, Pisanti Golf, livescoreph.com, McDonald’s, Julie’s Bakeshop and Ishields. Inquirer Golf and A Round of Golf are media partners.