Pimnipa nips fellow Thai, tops Ladies Open

PIMNIPA Panthong extended Thailand’s rule of the Champion Infinity Philippine Ladies Open Championship after closing out with a one-over-par 73 yesterday to nip compatriot Kanyalak Preedasutthijit by a stroke at Wack Wack’s West layout.

The reedy Pimnipa drained critical putts in the stretch to hold off the field and make sure that the prestigious title stayed at the hands of a Thai after Sumapas Sangchan ruled the previous two editions at Mount Malarayat and Forest Hills.

The 17-year-old held her nerve despite dropping a stroke on the 16th, securing pars on the last two holes with putts from six and 16 feet, respectively, to tally a level 216 over the well-manicured layout that was as tough as nails the whole week.

Kanyalak, who has a Malaysian Open tucked under her belt, returned a 72 for 217.

Best Filipino finisher

Pauline del Rosario wound up as the best Filipino finisher after a 74 got her to 219, three shots off.

“I am very happy and excited because it is my first time playing in the Philippines and I won a major championship,” Pimnipa, who received a trophy and a bouquet from WGAP president Marissa Romano and club president Benjamin Abalos Sr.

Yuka Saso, a teammate of Del Rosario in the rock-solid ICTSI squad, and Miya Legaspi fired 71s to tie at 220 with Sam Martirez finishing another two strokes off after a 76.

Superal streak ends

Princess Superal, the country’s No. 1, formally saw an end to an impressive string of victories dating back to last month when she fired a 76 for 225, easily her worst finish in the past couple of months.

Del Rosario was within two shots of Pimnipa going into the final two holes but hit a wayward tee shot on the 17th for the last of her five bogeys. She had three birdies, the last coming on No. 14 which pulled her to that two-shot deficit.

“My timing was off the whole week, I never got into a rhythm,” rued the 16-year-old Del Rosario, a winner of nine events last year counting a the Faldo Series championship over Superal.