Lee outduels Kawagishi for ICTSI crown

TAGAYTAY—South Korea’s Lee Jeong-hwa picked up crucial shots on the closing holes for a two-under-par 70 and completed a come-from-behind win over Japan’s Fumika Kawagishi in the $75,000 ICTSI Champion Tour.

Lee birdied three of her last eight holes and built enough buffer on overnight leader Kawagishi for a 54-hole 208 total at ravine-laden Splendido course here for the $15,000 champion’s purse in the event presented by Champion as part of the Taiwan LPGA.

Kawagishi, who zoomed to the lead with a brilliant 65 on Thursday, matched par for a 209 total.

The one-shot victory was the second for Lee on local soil, having won in 2012 at Southwoods after turning back amateur stalwart Princess Superal by three shots for the Philippine Ladies Open championship.

Lee birdied the 11th, 15th and 17th holes even as Kawagishi bogeyed No. 14 to pull out the win.

Superal carved out a 71 and emerged as the best Filipino finisher over pros Dottie Ardina and Cyna Rodriguez.

“The goal right from the start was to win,” said Lee, who landed a 6-iron shot to within 5 feet for birdie on No. 7.

Taiwan’s Chen Yu-ju tied Superal for third at 214 along with Thailand’s Kanpahnitnan Muangkhumaskul, the Taiwan LPGA’s opening leg winner, who fired a 69.

Mia Piccio submitted a 72 and finished at 217, with Ardina firing a 73 for 218 and Rodriguez, the US LPGA regular, shooting a 72 for 222. Musong R. Castillo