Go foils Pagdanganan; Japanese prevails

Lois Kaye Go survived Bianca Pagdanganan’s blazing backside charge with clutch par putts in the last two holes, claiming the Philippine Amateur Open Golf Championship women’s crown on a closing 70 for a one-shot victory at Riviera’s Langer course in Silang, Cavite, on Sunday.

Just when Go thought she had the championship all but wrapped up after storming to a four-shot lead at the turn, Pagdanganan charged back with three birdies in the last nine holes, including back-to-back feats from No. 15, to pull within one.

But she failed to cap her fiery rally with flubbed birdie chances from long range in the last two holes while Go matched her Asian Games gold medal teammate’s pars to clinch the country’s premier championship on a 72-hole 285 total.

“I got a little bit rattled after Bianca birdied Nos. 15 and 16,” said Go, who trailed Pagdanganan and Thai Atthaya Thitikul with a 71 in the first round.

Fiercer was the battle for the men’s diadem with Gen Nagai of Japan edging Thai Vanchai Luangnitikul with a birdie on the second extra hole of a three-man playoff with Singapore’s Lucius Toh.

Nagai and Toh fought back with identical 71s to force a three-way tie at 298 after 72 holes as Luangnitikul stumbled with a 72.