Lee checks skid, claims Open crown

MANILA, Philippines - Lee Jeong Hwa came away with clutch par putts in the last three holes to arrest an impending slide, foil the rallying Princess Superal and Lovelynn Guioguio and complete a wire-to-wire victory in the Philippine Ladies Open despite a closing 75 at Wack Wack’s East course yesterday.

Lee looked headed for a cruise after making the turn with a 35, hiking her overnight four-shot lead to as many as five over a charging Guioguio, who, however, reeled back with a 7 at the par-4 11th. But the 17-year-old Korean also made a triple-bogey on No. 11 and dropped another stroke on the next, enabling Superal to close within two with a birdie on No. 15.

But the Busan native hung tough and matched Superal’s pars on Nos. 16 and 17 inside five feet then knocked down another par from three feet on the final hole, which Superal bogeyed, to complete a three-stroke victory at 217.

“I didn’t mind the score and never felt threatened. I just played my game and tried to stay focused,” said Lee, who thus became the first Korean to win the country’s premier championship on the event’s golden staging.

The win also made up for Lee’s failed title bid in the 2009 edition of the event at home at Southwoods and augured well for her pro debut in March.

“I’ve decided to turn pro and join the Korean Tour this March,” said Lee, who also expressed her willingness to join The Country Club Invitational set Jan. 26-29.

Superal, 14, settled for a 74 and a 220 for her best finish in a tournament of this magnitude.

“I had that feeling that I could win after the 15th hole,” said Superal, the newest member of the ICTSI golf team. “I gave it my best but I just fell short in the end.”

Guioguio, winner of last week’s Philippine Amateur title, also made a 7 on the final hole but still wound up at third with a 224 in the 54-hole championship sponsored by Champion Infinity and presented by Pacsports.

“I was doing great in the first 10 holes before that triple bogey on the 11th killed my chances,” rued Guioguio.

Sunshine Baraquiel fired a 73 while Claire Amelia Legaspi had a 74 as they shared fourth place at 226 while Savitree Thavong emerged the top Thai finisher with a 227 after a 75 in a tie with former champion Jayvie Agojo, who sputtered with a 78.

Thai Supamas Sangchan ended up solo eighth with a 229 while erstwhile contender Felicia Medalla cracked under pressure and skied to an 83 to drop to joint ninth with Sarah Ababa, who carded a 78, at 231.

Four ahead of Superal at the start of the day, Lee pulled away with birdies on Nos. 1 and 5 although Guioguio, eight behind after 36 holes, tried to make a run with four birdies after eight holes before settling for a 33 with a bogey-mishap on No. 9.

Guioguio, also the reigning Samsung Am champion, birdied No. 10 to close within five but made an errant drive on No. 11 and needed two shots to get out of the stymied lie for that 7.

Lee also dropped three strokes on the tricky dog-leg hole when she hit it into the threes and dumped her approach shot into the hazard. She failed to shake off that mishap and made a bogey on the next but recovered her bearing in time to fend off Superal’s late-hole rally.

The event was organized by Women’s Golf Association of the Phils. and backed by hole-in-one sponsors Diamond Motors, Mitsubishi Motors, Mizuno and Titleist, and Duty Free Phils., Purefoods, San Miguel Corp., and Philippine Daily Inquirer, Omnisource, Coca-Cola, ABS-CBN, Alabang Ladies, Bailey’s, Burger King, Canlubang Ladies, De Capricho Jewellers, EEI, Forest Hills Ladies, Green Cross, Holiday Inn, Jardin San Antonio Memorial Park, Malarayat Ladies, Mancare Health Systems, Inc., Manila Golf Ladies, Megaforce Security and Allied Services, Inc., Mills, Nescafe, RCBC, Southwoods Ladies, Sta. Elena Ladies, Tagaytay Highlands Ladies, Tres Palmas, Waterworld Trading Corp., Villamor Golf Club Ladies Chapter and A Round of Golf.