SINGAPORE ? Singapore did its mop-up job while Thailand knocked the Philippines out of second place Friday in the 48th Putra Cup here.

Singapore wrested the crown from defending champion Thailand, which managed to salvage second place as Tanyakon Khongpra fired a five-under-par 66 that keyed a swashbuckling 202 for the day to win runner-up honors by five shots over the game Filipinos at the Bukit course of the Singapore Island Country Club here.

Khongpra, a member of the gold medal-winning Southeast Asian Games team in Thailand last year, also won the individual title over Singaporean star Choo Tze Huang via a countback, his birdie on No. 18 giving him the better score for the day. Both had 276 tallies.

Pipatpong Neawsuk, the reigning Southeast Asian Games individual champion, also shot a 66 despite a silly three-putt from four feet that resulted in bogey on the closing hole, and Varan Israbhakdi contributed a 70.

So good were the Thais that they threw away Aphchart Parditak?s 71.

That effort easily wiped out a seven-stroke overnight lead that the Philippines enjoyed as Neawsuk buckled down to work early by making the turn at 31 and Krongpha checking in with a 32.

Choo, the burly 21-year-old seen by many as the future of Singapore golf, fired a 67 and Jonathan Leong added a 68 with either of Jerome Ng and Quincy Quek?s 70 counting for their 205 and 823 overall.

It was still a 19-point victory for the Singaporeans, whose triumph here silenced their critics as it came against a full field. Two years ago, the Philippines and Thailand did not play in the event that Singapore won handily in Papua New Guinea.

Tonlits Asistio almost holed a chip from around the 18th green and had to settle for a birdie and a 70 to lead the Philippines, which got identical 72s from Rufino Bayron and National Caddies? Open program standout Jonel Ababa for 214 and 847 total.

Ferdinand Aunzo, who won two titles in Malaysia before adding his first RP Amateur championship prior coming over, failed to count for the second straight day with a 74.

It was a sorry finish for the Filipinos, who were in second place at the end of each of the first three rounds.

Asistio, the 19-year-old former junior ace, was actually the brightest Filipino performer individually, finishing in a tie for sixth with Neawsuk with a 282 total, two-under over the matured James Baird creation.

Ababa, who has been hobbled by the flu the last two days, and Bayron, who opened up hostilities for the Philippines with a brilliant 68 on Tuesday, tied for 11th spot at 287.

The Filipino golfers? stint here was backed by the Philippine Sports Commission, Stradcom and Dynamic Sports president Chris Tang.

Singapore made it a double by winning the Lion?s Cup by three shots, also over Thailand.