Philippine ladies take 3-stroke Santi Cup lead

HONG KONG—With Dottie Ardina in the lead, the Philippines fired a 207 aggregate and seized a three-shot lead over fancied Thailand at the start of the Santi Cup of the Southeast Asian Amateur Golf Team Championship at the Clearwater Bay and Country Club course here Tuesday.

Ardina fired a two-under 68 despite throwing away a stroke in her last hole, where she failed to salvage par from eight feet.

Andie Unson carded a solid 69 for the Philippines while Chihiro Ikeda matched par 70.

“I could’ve easily shot a 5-under but missed two birdie chances inside five feet and holed out with that silly bogey,” said Ardina.

Thailand was actually tied with the Philippines through nine holes but lost its footing after Pavarisa Yoktuan collapsed into a three-hole mishap (triple bogey, bogey, bogey) at the stretch.

She still counted for the team’s 210 output with Pinrath Loomboonruang firing the day’s best of 67 and Wad Phaewchimpee adding a 71.

Hong Kong pooled a 217 for third but stood 10 strokes adrift while Malaysia assembled a 221, Singapore struggled with a 224 and Indonesia ended up with a 226.

Meanwhile, the Lion City Cup, where the PH junior team is the reigning champion, is still being played at presstime.

The Putra Cup team of Zanie Boy Gialon (37), Lloyd Go (37), John Kier Abdon (39) and Art Arbole (39) had a eight-over card after nine holes in a tie with Thailand with Indonesia taking the clubhouse lead with a one-over aggregate. Malaysia has a running two-over card, Singapore and Myanmar have four. The Philippine golf squad is also sanctioned by the NGAP and supported by ICTSI and the Philippine Sports Commission.