LUBAO, Pampanga – Team Southeast Asia dominated the fourball competition anew yesterday to pull away from the home team heading into the singles matches today in the Pradera Ladies Challenge at the Pradera Golf and Country Club course here.
The visiting squad won three of five matches to win the morning fourballs, 3 ½-1 ½, and split the afternoon foursomes to build a commanding 6-point lead.
The visitors need only two wins and a draw in the final 10 singles matches to win the inaugural staging of the Ryder Cup-style event featuring the region’s top amateurs and rising stars.
“Our selection is really stronger. Team Pradera did not have much to choose from that’s probably why we are better than them,” said Team SEA co-captain Phunumpa Pornperapan, whose squad boasts of national players from Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.
Thai Atthaya Thitikul, 13, powered the visitors in both the fourball and foursome to remain unbeaten in four matches.
Mikha Fortuna and Annyka Cayabyab accounted for the home team’s lone victory in fourball at the expense of Napabhach Boon-in and Winnie Ng, 2&1.
While stressing the need to draw more quality games from her lead players, Team Pradera co-skipper Jennfier Rosales remains hopeful of a big comeback in the singles.
“I’ll put my strongest in the first five pairings. We’re too far behind and we need to pile up points early,” said the former two-time LPGA Tour champion. The results:
Morning matches (fourball)
Team SEA beat Team Pradera, 3½-1 ½
Atthaya Thitikul-Geraldine Wong d. Nicole Abelar-Mika Arroyo, 4&2;
Tunrada Piddon-Michela Tjan d. Abby Arevalo-Tomi Arejola, 6&4;
Kan Bunnabodee-Natasha Oon d. Pau del Rosario-Missy Legaspi, 3&2;
Mikha Fortuna-Annyka Cayabyab d. Napabhach Boon-in and Winnie Ng, 2&1;
Sofia Chabon-Bernice Ilas vs Onkanok Soisuwan-Qistina Azhar, all-square
Afternoon matches (foursomes)
Team SEA vs Team Pradera, 2 1/2-2 1/2
Thitikul- Bunnabodee d. Legaspi-Arroyo, 4&3;
Soisuwan-Wong d. Fortuna-Cayabyab, 2-up;
Abelar-Arejola d. Piddon-Boon-in, 3&2;
Ilas-Chabon d Oon-Ng, 2-up;
Del Rosario-Arevalo vs Tjan-Qistana, all square