Thai ace holds on to win despite a 74

Thailand’s PK Kongkraphan had just enough buffer in the final round on Thursday as a two-over-par 74 proved enough to hold off Filipino Harmie Constantino and two Taiwanese for the ICTSI Luisita Ladies International title at the age-old layout north of Manila.

The 7-year US Ladies Professional Golf Association veteran survived three straight bogeys from No. 15 as her closest pursuer overnight, Taiwan’s Hsuan Chen, shot herself in the foot with a closing 76 to fall into a tie with Constantino, who assembled a day-best 69, and Chih Yun-Wu, who matched par 72.

“It was a tough day,” Kongkraphan, who notched a 24th pro title with a 54-hole 211 tally worth $18,000 (roughly P1.026 million), said. “I have been working hard, and it paid off.”

Chen, who held the first round lead after a 68 and started the final round just one shot off after a 70 on Wednesday, played her final nine at 41, with those string of dropped shots obviously sealing her doom.

Constantino, who started the day six off the pace, simply ran out of holes in her bid to win a third straight tournament in come-from-behind style. A birdie on the 18th gave her the best Filipino finish as Florence Bisera checked in another stroke behind after a 73.