Thai ace tops Ladies Tour Q-School

Thai Amolkan Phalajivin closed with a two-over-par 74 to rule the ICTSI Ladies Philippine Golf Tour Qualifying School at Eagle Ridge’s Aoki course in Cavite Friday.

Phalajivin pooled 224 to win the 54-hole qualifier by two shots over Korean Kwon Seo-yon, who fired the last day’s best round of 70.

Kwon’s compatriot Park You-ra placed third with 227 after a final-round 74 while ICTSI amateur mainstays Samantha Martirez (78) and Mika Fortuna (83) wound up fourth and fifth with 231 and 236, respectively.

Japanese amateur Yuka Saso (76), Korean Kim So-yoon (80) and Filipina Ashia Marie Nocum (81) posted total scores of 237, 239, and 240 for sixth to eighth spots.

Phalajivin thus joined the country’s leading ladies pro in the eight-leg ICTSI LPGT firing off in April at Orchard in Dasmariñas, Cavite.

Korean amateurs Kwon and Kim will also turn pro and join the circuit after finishing No. 2 and 7, respectively.

Cyna Rodriguez, the ICTSI LPGT’s inaugural Order of Merit winner, is expected to head the Orchard cast along with Jayvie Agojo, Lovelynn Guioguio, Sarah Ababa, Anya Tanpinco, Apple Fudolin, Tracy Que, Lucy Landicho, Heidi Chua, Mary Grace Estuesta, Sylvia Torres, Jan Punzalan, Reb Bareng, Eva Minoza, Barsy Leonen and Chihiro Ikeda.