Filipinas break Thais’ Santi Cup reign

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines ended Thailand’s domination of the Santi Cup in resounding fashion, claiming the team crown via a whopping 18-stroke victory and sweeping the top two posts in individual play of the South East Asia Golf Team Championships in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar recently.

Asian Games gold medal teammates Bianca Pagdanganan and Lois Kaye Go sustained their top forms and teamed up with Bernice Ilas-Olivarez to power the Phl to the team championship in the 10th staging of the event for the top lady amateurs in the region, pooling a 72-hole total of 559.

Thailand, which ruled the first four editions from 2009-2012 then swept the last three championships, failed to match the Phl’s hot start and strong finish at the City Golf Course, ending up with a 577 aggregate with Malaysia taking the bronze with a 593.

Pagdanganan, also a former Phl Ladies Amateur Open champion, stood at the forefront of the Pinays’ charge, scoring a 10-under 278 total to clinch the individual gold with Go bagging the silver with a 281. Thai Napabhach Boon-in settled for bronze with 287.

Though it was only the Phl’s second victory in a decade-long staging of the annual championship, it underscored the Pinays’ tremendous form and confidence following their Asian Games conquest where Yuka Saso anchored the country’s improbable comeback in the final round to sweep the team and individual golds in last year’s Asiad in Jakarta.