Unson snares China Am Open crown

MANILA, Philippines - Unson came out a bit steadier than Wang in a wavering finish marred by three bogeys in the last five holes as the Chinese dropped four strokes in the same stretch, enabling the top ICTSI bet to snatch a one-stroke victory at 215.

Wang, who threatened tO blow the field with a fiery frontside score of 32, highlighted by a three-birdie string from No. 4, seized a two-stroke lead at the turn but cracked under pressure and fumbled with a 40 for a 72 and a 216.

“Andie never gave up. She kept on pressing her bid at the back and gained a break when she knocked down that 10-footer for birdie on No. 12,” said ICTSI team coach Nestor Mendoza.

With Wang failing to return a six-footer for par at the par-3 No. 12, Unson gained a crucial two-shot swing to draw level then hung tough in a shaky finish to clinch her fourth win in the season, counting her title romp in the Philippine Amateur, the Philippine International Junior Championship and the Montecillo Cup.

Both parred the par-5 No. 13 but Unson regained the lead despite a bogey on the tough No. 14 as Wang hit an errant drive and struggled to reach the green in four and flubbed a six-footer for bogey.

They both bogeyed the next hole, parred the par-3 16th then fumbled with another pair of bogeys on the 17th before Unson matched Wang’s par-game on the 18th to preserve a one-stroke lead and the victory.

The rest also failed to cash in on the duo’s sputtering windup with R. Jii, also of China, carding a second straight 74 to finish third at 221 while Japan’s Yu Okamura made a 75 for a 224.

The victory augured well for Unson’s buildup for next month’s SEA Games in Jakarta where she will join Dottie Ardina and Chihiro Ikeda in the country’s title retention bid in team play and individual (Ikeda) competitions.