Thai pulls away by 6 with 69

MANILA, Philippines — Onkanok Soisuwan of Thailand rebounded from a shaky start with a cluster of birdies at the back, shooting a three-under 69 and storming to a six-stroke lead over Cyna Rodriguez and two other Thais in the second round of the ICTSI Mount Malarayat Ladies Classic at Mt. Malarayat composite course in Lipa City, Batangas yesterday.

Soisuwan actually stepped on the 18th mound with a whopping eight-stroke lead after a five-birdie string at Mt. Malipunyo but holed out with a double-bogey, settling for a 36-33 card and giving her rivals some chance for a fightback with 18 holes to play in the P1.25 million tournament.

But with a five-under 139 aggregate, Soisuwan still stood too far ahead of Rodriguez, Polnamin Pannapa and Yoopan Tiranan, who all pooled 145s while erstwhile co-leader Sofia Chabon failed to sustain her opening 70 with an error-filled 76 that dropped her to joint fifth at 146 with Thai Ponthanark Chommapat and amateurs Mikha Fortuna and Sam Bruce.