INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philipppines--Thailand captured seven of 12 titles at stake to dominate the 29th Asia Pacific Junior Golf Championship presented by the Department of Tourism on Friday at the Sherwood Hills course in Trece Martires, Cavite.

And the powerhouse Thai squad highlighted its impressive romp with victories in the overall team and individual championships.

Moriya Jutanugarn stood at the forefront of the Thai triumph in the girls' team play with a final-round 143 and a 424 total, relegating the touted South Koreans and the Taiwanese, who both managed 145s, to second and third, respectively.

The Koreans pooled 435, six clear of the Taiwanese 441 and 13 ahead of the Filipinos, who turned in their best effort of 147 for 448.

Khrongppa Thanyakorn warded off his Taiwanese pursuers with a two-under-par 70 to claim the boys' overall title and lift Thailand to the team championship.

Counting his earlier rounds of 66-73-75, Thanyakorn posted a 284 total that proved to be the difference in the Thais' see-saw battle with the Taiwanese and the Indians.

The Thais finished with an aggregate of 870, just one shot ahead of the Taiwanese, who wound up with 871, and the Indians, who pooled 874.

Malaysia ended up fourth (220-887), Korea fifth (219-895), the Philippines sixth (223-912), Hong Kong seventh (233-942) and Guam eighth (237-968).

The boys' Class A title went to Taiwan's Hsieh Chi-hsien, who also fired a 70 for 286.

Another Taiwanese, Tao Huang, was third with his 70-287.

Also showing depth, Indians finished 1-2 in boys' Class B as Ashbeer Singh Saini matched par for a 72-hole total of 291 and erstwhile pacesetter Chikkarangappa Seenappa carded a 77 for 293.

Competing in Class B, Jutanarugarn closed out with a four-over-par 76 and a 54-hole total of 214. His scored bested that of Class A winner Hiseh Yu-ling of Chinese-Taipei (71-216) and South Korean runner-up Lee Mjungol gin-young's 75-218.

The girls' Class B plum went to Korea's Kim Ji-hee, who shot 73 for 224, nine strokes up on the Philippine bet Sarah Jane Ababa, who carded a 74 for 233.

The best local performers in the girls' division were Sunshine Baraquiel, who fired a 72 and caught up with reigning Philippine Ladies titlist Chihiro Ikeda (75) at 225, good for eighth overall.

On Thursday, AR Ramos nipped compatriot Angelo Gandionco via the countback to hand the Philippines the boys' Class C crown.

The Thais also struck in girls' Class C through Ariya Jutanugarn and in girls' Class D through Sutavee Chanachai.

The event was also backed by San Miguel Corp., Pagcor, Diamond Motors, Victory Coach Inc., Southwoods Manor, Sherwood Hills, Smart, Microsoft, Golden Oats, Pancake House, GMaxsports, De La Paz trophy, Coca Cola and Callaway/Electrobus Consolidated, Inc.

Elated by the tournament's success, the Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines promised to revitalize its programs in order to keep up with the rapid development of the sport in the region, particularly in Thailand.

According to JGFP chairman Gerry Handog, private groups have expressed interest in supporting more tournaments and the foreign stints of local jungolfers.