Corpus scores breakthru win

TARLAC—Cristina Corpus birdied three of the first four holes on the back nine on the way to a two-under-par 70 yesterday and seized her first tour victory with a three-shot victory over Thailand’s Walailak Satarak in the ICTSI Luisita Ladies Challenge at Lusita.

The 26-year-old Filipino-American from Orlando, Florida, closed out with nines of 36-34. Counting her 75 and 74 in the first rounds, Corpus pooled 219 over 54 holes.

Satarak, a former winner on the Canadian Tour who shared the overnight lead with Corpus, managed a 73 and finished runner-up for the second time on the local tour.

“I thought the birdie on No. 10 was the turning point; I went 2-up and my confidence was back,” said Corpus, who picked up the champion’s purse of P100,000.

Satarak pocketed P70,000.

Another Thai, Supakchaya Pattaranakrueang, matched Corpus’ 70 and clinched a tie for third with compatriot and first-round leader Saraporn Chamchoi, who carded a 73, at 225.

Sarah Ababa, who lay three shots behind the co-leaders overnight, struggled to a 77 marred by five bogeys in a back-nine 40 to slip to sixth place on 229.

Lovelynn Guioguio shot a 73 and finished fifth on 226, while last year’s Splendido winner Amolkan Phalajivin, also of Thailand, ballooned to a 78 for solo seventh at 231.

Jayvie Agojo, another former winner on the circuit, fired a 74 and ended up eighth at 233 while Apple Fudolin placed ninth at 236 after a 79. Lina de Guzman made a 78 for 10th at 237. Steve Silva, Contributor