Pinay golfers 7 shots adrift in Sirikit Cup

MANILA, Philippines - Dottie Ardina and Clare Legaspi hobbled with a pair of four-over par 76s as the Philippines fell seven shots off a hot-starting Thailand and Japan sides in the first round of the Asia-Pacific Ladies Invitational golf team championship in Taiwan yesterday.

Ardina, coming into the event with a series of victories here and abroad, and Legaspi struggled in the wind and on the slow putting surface of the Sunrise Golf and Country Club, dropping too many shots at the back as they combined for a 152 for joint sixth with Malaysia in the 11-team field.

Cyna Rodriguez, a fellow ICTSI team mainstay of Ardina and the reigning Hong Kong Am champion, skied to an 80 and failed to count in the three-to-play, two-to-count format event also known as the Queen Sirikit Cup.

Omnicha Konsuthea matched par 72 in tough condition while Benyapa Niphatsophon carded a 73 as they led Thailand’s charge of 145 for a share of the lead with Japan, which drew the day’s best of 70 from Haruka Morita and a 75 from Mayu Hosaka.

Supamas Sangchan’s 75 and Asuka Kashiwabara’s 78 didn’t count for Thailand and Japan, respectively.

South Korea, which dominated the event in Singapore last year, pooled a 147 as Gyeol Park fired a 72 and Yu Go-un had a 75 while Australia took solo fourth with a 148 from fancied Minjee Lee and Oh Su-hyun pair of 74s.

Taiwan also assembled a 148 on Chang Yu-Hsin’s even par card and Cheng Ssu-chia’s 76.

Malaysia matched Phl’s 152 as Kelly Tan and Nur Durriyah Damian turned in similar 76s while India shot a 153 and Singapore and Hong Kong made a pair of 156s and New Zealand carding a 157.