Fruitless campaign for golfers

PHNOM PENH—The Philippines dropped a pair of heartbreaking playoff losses to Cambodia and Indonesia in team match play event to end its fruitless campaign in golf competitions of the 32nd Southeast Asian Games here Thursday.

Rianne Malixi bowed to Yin Harmonie of the host country in sudden death, failing to match the latter’s birdie feat from six feet on No. 9 of the Garden City course as the Philippines yielded to unfancied Cambodia in the knockout head-to-head quarterfinal matches among nine teams.

Malixi delivered the lone medal —a team bronze—in the last SEAG in Vietnam last year, chipping in for birdie to nip Singapore’s Suanne Loh on the fourth playoff hole.

Falling short of medal at fourth place in individual play Wednesday, the ICTSI-backed Malixi tried to steer the Philippines into contention in team play but lost to Preap Lien in their quarter duel.

LK Go, however, tripped Harmonie, paving the way for the sudden death.

In men’s team play, the Philippines yielded to Indonesia as EnriqueDimayuga, the best-placed Filipino at joint fifth in individual play, lost to Amadeus Susanto on the first playoff hole on No. 10 in their quarterfinal face-off.

Wyeth Dumdumaya trounced Jonathan Hartono, 4&2, but Aidric Chan dropped a 0-2 setback to Ryan Latief. Dimayuga and Susanto settled for an all- square match that led to the playoff.

Because in these parts, he is the GOAT (greatest of all time) on the track.

The ageless Cray added a never-heard-of 6th straight 400-m hurdles’ gold to his growing legend, hence the finger sign, to go with two others outside of his pet event, to crown himself as the Southeast Asian Games’ most successful trackster, if he ain’t already is.

“A year after COVID, five (titles) and now six (like) Jordan, six and O. That’s a little thing I got going with my coach,” said the 34-year-old Cray, whose victory was made all the more impressive by the fact that he ran hurt.

Bugged by a nagging sports hernia, Cray weathered the pain to storm to a 50.03-second clocking in his favorite event, to beat Thailand’s Natthapon Dansungnoen (50.73) and Singapore’s Calvin Quek (50.75). The Philippines’ other entry, Alhryan Labita placed 7th in 53.89.

Cray’s time was way below his own Philippine record of 48.98,

Natalie Uy clears the 4.0-meter high bar.

Ira Alido keeps himself in the hunt for a follow- up to his come- from- behind win in Bacolod last March.