Thai Kongkraphan outwits Chen in showdown of nerves in Luisita
PK KONGKRAPHAN extended her dominance on foreign soil by capturing the International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) Luisita Ladies International 2024 championship despite a 74 on ursday. e victory, however, didn’t come easily as Hsuan Chen posed a formidable challenge throughout the $100,000 championship co-sanctioned by the Ladies Professional Golf Association of Taiwan (TLPGA) and the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour (LPGT), turning the final nine holes into a virtual match play and a gripping test of nerves. But was Kongkraphan’s unwavering determination that proved decisive in the stretch. Capitalizing on Chen’s costly bogeys on Nos. 15, 16 and 17, Kongkraphan seized the opportunity to regain control and secured the hard-fought, threestroke victory with a brave run of pars at the Luisita Golf Club course in Tarlac.
Kongkraphan’s triumph was fashioned out on a five-under 211 total and worth $18,000 in the tournament marked by intense competition and punishing conditions.
It was her a 24th professional title in a career spanning 15 years that saw her triumph on various tours, including the Ladies Asian Golf Tour and Epson Tour.
Kongkraphan, who campaigned for seven years on the LPGA Tour, also accumulated several championships on the ailand LPGA, leading to Order of Merit titles the last three years.
“I’ve been working hard for this and it paid off. It was a tough day, I tried to be aggressive but the conditions were tough. It was very stressful but I’m very proud of myself,” said Kongkraphan, who also noted the tough pin positions and the wind that picked up from the start.
Despite facing adversity with a one-birdie, two-bogey over nine holes to fall behind, the reigning Asian Games individual gold medalist displayed her experience and composure by stringing together a series a pars in the last seven holes.
As Chen briefly seized the lead with a frontside 35 and remained neck-andneck with Kongkraphan in the early stages of the back nine, the pressure mounted for both competitors with the Taiwanese reeling back with consecutive bogeys from No. 10 and the Khon Kaen native also yielding a stroke on the 11th, setting the stage for a frenetic finish.
But Chen’s wavering backside 41 led to a 76 and Kongkraphan’s commanding victory. It also enabled Harmie Constantino, who fired the day’s best 69, and Chih-yun Wu, who matched par 72 for the second straight time, to finish tied for second at 214 in the 54-hole championship sponsored by ICTSI and organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc. Each received $8,233.
As Chen faltered in the closing stages of the match, Kongkraphan pounced on her rival’s miscues. She also acknowledged the difficulty of the day’s play, emphasizing the need to staying mentally sharp and maintaining distance control on the greens.