Thai upends Cyna in third playoff hole

Thai Supakchaya Pattaranakrueang drained a pin-length putt for birdie on the third playoff hole on Friday to turn back Cyna Rodriguez and snare the ICTSI Luisita Ladies Championship crown in Tarlac.

Pattaranakrueang ended regulation with a level 72 and caught Rodriguez at 219. She then completed her rally from two-down at the start of the day with the long playoff for a breakthrough title in the local tour.

“I’m very happy,” said Pattaranakrueang, who tied for 13th at the Tagaytay Highlands Ladies Challenge last month. “I’ve been wanting to win here.”

Rodriguez blew a two-shot lead with a poor frontside stint and was actually three shots down before gunning down birdies on the 13th and 14th holes on the way to a 74.

Castro, Harmie top PH Jr Am

Meanwhile, Luis Castro and Harmie Constantino turned the final round of the Philippine Junior Amateur Golf Championship into a victory walk as they cruised to lopsided victories despite so-so closing rounds at Sherwood Hills in Trece Martires, Cavite, also on Friday.

Castro signed for a four-over-par 76 but still won the boys’ title by a whopping 15 strokes over Carl Corpus.

Castro tallied 291.

Constantino won the girls’ division by seven over Junia Gabasa after a closing 74 and a 293 total.

Gabasa, the first-round leader, shot an 80 with Nicole Abelar finishing third at 304 also after an 80.

Aniceto Mandanas carded a third straight 80 and also ran away with the Special Division (18-and-above) crown with a 318 with Aldo Barro finishing with a 351.