Two Thai aces, Huang tie for Midlands lead

Thai Ploychompoo Wilairungrueng missed a 10-foot birdie putt on No. 9 and settled for a 69 that put her in a three-way tie for the lead going into the final round of the $75,000 ICTSI Champion Tour at Tagaytay Midlands on Thursday.

Compatriot Renuka Suksukont and Taiwanese Ching Huang also have 137 aggregates after a 69 and 70, in that order as the trio took over with first round leader Pannapa Polnamin faltering with a 75 to be two shots off the pace.

Amateur LK Go shot a day-best 65 and became the best-placed Filipino after 36 holes. Trailing the joint leaders by just three shots was Princess Superal who struggled with a 74.

After shooting an opening 68, Superal dropped four shots in her first three holes and never recovered, returning a 37-37 card to be five shots behind.

That final hole miss typified Wilairungrueng’s struggles on Midlands’ unpredictable putting surfaces that saw her muff six other makeable birdie chances.

But the 23-year-old ace from Chiang Rai still moved on the threshold of a second straight championship after ruling the rain-shortened Southwoods stop last week.

“I’m not getting enough birdies but I’m happy to be among the leaders,” said Wilairungrueng.

The Asian Games-bound Go sizzled with four birdies at the back to more than make up for her shaky opening 75.