Martirez blows China title bid

Filipino Sam Martirez stuggled to a seven-over-par 79 and lost by one shot to China’s Wang Tianyu in the HSBC China Junior Open at Zhuhai Gulf Golf Course in Zhuhai, Guangdong province, over the weekend.

Martirez showed the way in the first two rounds of the 54-hole event but lost her touch on the final day, missing several clutch putts.

Wang stole victory with a closing 77 for a 228 total, one up on Martirez, who shot 74 and 76 in the first two days of the premier 15-17 division.

Yuka Saso, also of Team ICTSI, also limped home with a 75 and placed third in Class B (13-14) with 220, five better than Sofia Chabon.

Taiwanese Chen Ching-tzu scrambled for a 74 to complete a wire-to-wire triumph with a 217.