by Waylon Galvez
CANLUBANG – Renuka Suksukont bucked a triple bogey and closed out with even par 72 to beat a pair of Thai compatriots by two shots in the ICTSI Philippine Ladies Masters yesterday at the Country Club here.
The 22-year-old player from Pathum Thani squandered an overnight four-shot lead when she made a triple bogey on the par-4, 9th hole that allowed Chonlada Chayanun to pull even with five holes to go.
Chayanun, however, made back-to-back bogeys from the 15th and settled for second place in a tie with Ploychompoo Wirairungreung who shot the day’s best score – a 67.
Suksukont finished the three-round event at five-under 211 to complete the wire-to-wire triumph.
“This (win) is memorable because I made it on my first try,” said Suksukont who took home $12,000 in the event co-sanctioned by China and Taiwan LPGA Tours and Ladies Philippine Golf Tour.
Suksukont capped the win with a birdie on the final hole that offset a 17th-hole bogey.
Korea’s Hwang Min Jeong was at solo fourth at 215, while the fifth spot was taken by Thanuttra Boonraksasat at 216.
Suksukont said that she felt nervous after that triple bogey and even after taking a two-shot lead going into the last two holes.
“On hole 9, I hit it too soft (second shot). That shot was uphill, no space really. I hit three times uphill, then two putts. I hit the driver ok, but I made it hard for myself,” Suksukont said.
“I finally made it. Before the tournament I have feeling I have a chance to win. To finally win, I will come back here next year for sure,” added Suksukont, who bagged her third pro title and first outside of Thailand.
Filipino-Japanese amateur Yuka Saso was the best finisher among the local bets as she tied for sixth to eighth with Taiwan’s Hsieh Yu-Ling and China’s Zhang Jienalin at 217 in the event backed by Custom Clubmakers, BDO, Meralco, Sharp, KZG, PLDT, Champion, Summit Mineral Water and K&G Golf.
The other Filipino finishers were Chihiro Ikeda 76-217, Princess Superal 69-218, Pauline del Rosario 74-220, Cyna Rodriguez 72-221, and amateur Mikaella Fortuna 74-226 and Marvi Monsalve 75-228.
