Team SEA rules Pradera golf showdown

Team Southeast Asia yesterday pounded its Philippine counterpart to submission in the singles and went on to complete a 19.5-10.5 rout of the hosts for the inaugural Pradera Ladies Challenge title at Pradera Verde in Lubao, Pampanga.

Made up of national team members of Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia, Team SEA lost three of the first four matches but won five of the last six and drew one for a 6.5-3.5 score that highlighted its dominance for the week.

“We learned a lot in this event, and my girls were excited for having earned new friends,” said nonplaying skipper Phonumpa Pomperapan, whose charges took a commanding 7-3 lead after Day 1 and opened up a formidable 10-6 advantage after Sunday’s four-ball and foursome skirmishes.

Indonesia’s Michela Tjan posted a 3&1 victory over junior world veteran Sofia Chabon for the point that clinched the title for the visitors.

For a while, it looked like the young Filipinos were on their way to preventing Team SEA from winning, with Mikha Fortuna, pro-bound Pauline del Rosario and Bernice Ilas securing victories over crack Thais.

Fortuna posted the first point for Team Philippines with a 2&1 win over Kan Bunnabodee, before Del Rosario routed the visitors’ leading scorer, 13-year-old Atthaya Thitikul, 3&1, and Ilas nipped Tunrada Piddon, 2&1.

But the Filipinos would not win another match, coming closest with the all-square that Abby Arevalo churned out against Malaysia’s Geraldine Wong.

“It was a great tournament,” said Team PH nonplaying captain and LPGA veteran Jennifer Rosales. “It was fun teaching these kids and I am very proud of my team.”