Pinay golfers stumble in Sabah Amateur Open

MANILA, Philippines - Sunshine Baraquiel and Jayvie Agojo fumbled with over par cards and yielded the top post to Malaysian Kelly Tan who fired a 71 to wrest a two-stroke lead in the second round of the 28th Sabah Amateur Open Golf Championship in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia Saturday.

Baraquiel, who led a 1-2 start by the ICTSI-backed bets in the first round with a 71, struggled with a 74 for a 145, dropping two shots behind Tan.

Agojo, who matched Tan’s opening 72, missed a couple of birdie putts and made a 73 to remain in joint second with Baraquiel while fancied Dottie Ardina, seeking a third title in three months, continued to grope for form and wound up with a 74 for a 147.

Other three-over par scorers were Princess Superal, who matched par 72 and Malaysia’s Aretha Pan Herng, who shot the day’s best of 70.

Meanwhile, Sarah Ababa settled for the Class A crown with a closing 78, losing the overall championship to Thai Benyapa Niphatsophon in the True Visions International Junior Golf Championship in Rayong, Thailand last weekend.

Ababa, who led in the first round, failed to check her skid and wound up with that six-over card for a four-day total of 301, way off Niphatsophon’s 295 after a 75.

But Ababa held off a rallying Suchaya Tangkamolprasert, also of Thailand, who carded a 73 for a 302, to clinch the Class A honors while Andie Unson and Daniella Uy had 314 and 321 after an 83 and 75, respectively.