Thais seal sweep; Zaragosa triumphs

MANILA, Philippines - Thailand closed out with a four-under 212 and completed a sweep of the team and individual crowns in girls’ play but Rupert Zaragosa rallied to snatch the boys’ individual plum in the 2013 ASEAN Schools Golf Championships at Splendido Golf Club in Tagaytay yesterday.

Suthavee Chanachai matched her first round output of 68 to anchor the Thais final round drive with Supamas Sangchan adding a 71 and gold medalist Sherman Santiwiwatthanaphong turning in her first over-par card of 73 after going 17-under after three rounds.

With a 72-hole total of 34-under 830, that included a pair of brilliant 203 and 200 rounds, Thailand posted a whopping 24-stroke victory over Team Philippines, which assembled a three-under 213 for a 10-under 854, in the event sponsored by the Department of Education, International Container Terminal Services, Inc. Foundation, and Junior Golf Foundation of the Phils.

Miya Legaspi finally found her rhythm and fired a three-under 69, so did Princess Superal but ICTSI teammate Pauline del Rosario stumbled with a 75 and Daniella Uy didn’t count with a 76.

Indonesia shot a 217 and finished third with an 882 while Malaysia wavered with a 229 for a 902 and Singapore made a 242 for a 943 for fifth.

Zaragosa, meanwhile, bucked a bogey start on No. 10 and rattled off six birdies and hitting an eagle-3 on No. 2 against one more bogey on No. 5 as he fired a six-under 66 to capture the boys’ individual diadem with an 11-under 277 total.

He beat Thai Nattawat Suvajanakkorn by two after the third round leader settled for a 69 and a 279. Suradit Yongcharoenchai, also of Thailand, took the bronze with a 289 after a 72.

Thailand also ran away with the boys’ team crown with a four-under 1148 total after a six-under 210, 30 shots ahead of the Phl, which finished with a two-over 218 and 1178. Malaysia ended up third at 1188 after a 218 followed by Singapore (222-1197), Indonesia (228-1211) and Brunei (251-1295).

Thailand also swept the top three places in the girls’ individual competition with Santiwiwatthanaphong posting an 11-under 277 and Chanachi taking the silver medal at 280 and Sangchan settling for the bronze at 281.

Superal wound up fourth with a 282 followed by Legaspi (287) and Del Rosario, who failed to sustain an impressive 67 start and finished with a 288 in a tie with Indon Inez Wanamarta.