Thai leader hangs on

CANLUBANG — Thailand’s Renuka Suksukont finished strong as she birdied four of the last five holes and shot a twounder 70 to retain the lead in the second round of the ICTSI Philippine Ladies Masters yesterday at The Country Club here.

Suksukont currently has a two-day total of 139, five-under in the 54-hole tournament for a four-stroke lead over three players, including Filipino-Japanese Chihiro Ikeda, who is tied at 143 with Chonlada Chayanun and Wanchana Poruangrong,

It was another up-and-down performance for the native of Pathum Thani as Suksukont birdied her first hole on 10 after starting at the back nine to move at four-under.

Misfortune struck after that and the 22-year-old Suksukont made bogeys on three of the next four holes – 18, 1 and 3 – that put her at one-under in the $80,000 event organized by the Philippine Golf Tour (PGT)

Suksukont regained her focus, though, as she quickly recovered by nailing birdies on 5, 7, 8 and 9.

“I’m just glad that I made my putts, especially in the last three holes,” said Suksukont, who will be shooting for her first international title outside of Thailand where she has won two.

“I’ll just try to stay focused (in the fi- nal round), make putts. I’ll try my very best. Three players behind me are at one-under… so anything can still happen,” added Suksukont.

The 26-year-old Ikeda, who likewise began the second round at the back nine, started hot as she birdied 14, 17, 2 and 3 that allowed her to move to three-under for a two-shot lead on Suksukont.

But bogeys on 6 and 7 dropped Ikeda at one-under.

“Medyo nawala sa focus,” said the Ikeda, a veteran of three Southeast Asian (SEA) Games. “After ko kasi malagpasan yung 4 and 5 – na parehas mahirap – sa 6 and 7 pala ako madadale.

Four players are at 140, including Taiwanese amateur Hung Jo-Hua and Wu Yi-Ching, Korean amateur Hwang Min Jeong and China’s Liu Yan, while tied for ninth to 11 are Taiwan’s Hsieh Yu-Ling and Lee Tai-Ling, and China’s Zhang Jienalin at 141.