Corpus, Thai bet 3 shots clear at Luisita

Thailand’s Walailak Satarat picked herself up from a wobbly start, rescuing a one-over-par 73 to take a piece of the 36-hole lead with Christina Corpus in the P500,000 ICTSI Luisita Ladies Championship in Tarlac.

Satarat dropped a total of four strokes on her first six holes before birdying three of the next five for the solid finish, taking a 149 total into today’s final round, tied with the Fil-American Corpus, who fired a 74.

First-round leader Saraporn Chamchoi stumbled over the old, winding layout, shooting an 80 for 152 and dropping into a tie with top homegrown hope Sarah Ababa, who was birdie-less in signing for a 78.

Lovelyn Guioguio, the standout out of Del Monte in Bukidnon, assembled a 75 and was a stroke back of Ababa and Chamchoi.

Amolkan Phalajivin carded a 78 marred by two double bogeys to be alone at 153.

Corpus, a regular campaigner on the tour, missed taking the lead by her lonesome after bogeying the tough par-3 17th.

“I am not expecting anything here,” said Corpus in her most serious bid for a first title.

Satarak will go all-out for a win after falling short against compatriot Michae Wichanee at Splendido in April. Musong R. Castillo