Thai sizzles, powers team to ASEAN Schools lead

MANILA, Philippines - Sherman Santiwiwatthanaphong showed top form and eagled the first two holes then went on to fire a flawless eight-under 64 and seize control in individual play while powering Thailand to the lead in team competition at the start of the ASEAN Schools Golf Championships at Splendido Golf Club in Tagaytay yesterday.

Santiwiwatthanaphong’s stirring round included four birdies as she completely dominated the local bets although Pauline del Rosario hit six birdies against a bogey for a five-under 67. Another Thai, Suthavee Chanachai, also turned in a bogey-free round of 68 to underscore the team’s awesome form.

With Supamas Sangchan adding a one-under 71, Thailand pooled an impressive 13-under 203 to wrest a five-stroke lead over Team Philippines in the five-to-play, four-to-count format event also serving as a preview of the SEA Games in Myanmar next month.

Chanya Prathetrat didn’t count with a 73 in the event sponsored by the Department of Education, International Container Terminal Services, Inc., and Junior Golf Foundation of the Phils.

Princess Superal, the Asian Youth Games silver medalist who won the final leg of the ICTSI Ladies Pro Tour in Baguio recently, sputtered early with two bogeys in the first five holes but fought back with five birdies against one more bogey to salvage a 70 while Daniella Uy carded a 71 as the host squad, backed by ICTSI, pooled an eight-under 208 for second.

Miya Legaspi, winner of the gold medal in the Asian Youth Games, blew a three-under card after six holes as she fumbled with five bogeys against one more birdie for a one-over 73 and failed to count.

Indonesia, with Ribka Vania, firing a 70, stood far behind at third with 218 while Malaysia had a 223 and Singapore pooled a 235.

Sherman, who will spearhead Team Thailand in the SEAG with Sangchan, also took a three-stroke lead over Del Rosario in the individual competitions of the four-day championship.

Chanachai lay four shots behind at 68 followed by Vania and Superal with 70s and Uy and Sanchang with 71s.

Thailand also paced the boys’ category with an even 288, one shot ahead of Malaysia, which had a 289, while the Philippines hobbled with a 303, 15 strokes adrift followed by Indonesia (305), Singapore (307) and Brunei (327).

Malaysian Amir Nazrin Bin Jailani took charge in individual play with four-under 68, one shot ahead of Thai Nattawat Suvajanakkorn while Suradit Yongcharoenchai, also of Thailand shot a 70 to tie local ace Rupert Zaragoza.