Thai outclasses Ikeda by 6 shots

CARMONA, Cavite—Thai Wannasiri Sirisampant marked her first stint on the ICTSI Ladies Philippine Golf Tour in style, uncorking a scorching windup for a solid 66 and winning the P500,000 Manila Southwoods Ladies Classic by six over Chihiro Ikeda at the Southwoods’ Legends course here Thursday.

Saving her best for last, Sirisampant birdied four of the last six holes and turned what was expected to be a down-to-the-wire finish into a runaway victory as Ikeda and the rest of her pursuers, including second day leader Yuka Saso, hobbled with over-par scores in the final leg of the eight-stage circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc.

Tied with Ikeda, Korean amateur Hwang Min Jeong and compatriot Saraporn Chamchoi at second after 36 holes, Sirisampant surged ahead with a one-birdie stint at the front and watched her rivals fall off the leaderboard with bogey-riddled starts.

She wound up with a 10-under 203 aggregate and took the top P100,000 purse. She is the second Thai to win on the tour this year after Meechai Wichanee likewise routed the field to reign at ICTSI Splendido last April.

Ikeda wound up with a 72 for second at 209 worth P70,000.