TARLAC – Reigning Asian Games gold medalist PK Kongkraphan delivered a stellar performance under sweltering conditions, carding a six-under 66 to wrest control from Hsuan Chen after 36 holes of the $100,000 ICTSI Luisita Ladies International 2024 on Wednesday.
The Thai standout demonstrated exceptional consistency while adopting an aggressive approach, notching birdies in three of the first six holes and adding four more birdies against a lone bogey in the last eight to fashion out a pair of 33s.
Thai goes bogey-free
With a bogey-free 71 in the previous round, Kongkraphan, 32, asserted her dominance with a seven-under 137 aggregate for a one-stroke lead over Chen at the Luisita Golf and Country Club course.
The Taiwanese, who initially appeared poised to dominate the field with three consecutive birdies from No. 10, had two bogeys against a birdie throughout the round, ultimately settling for a 70 after a sterling 68. She slipped to second place at 138.
Punpaka Phuntumabamrung briefly positioned herself to challenge for the top with a four-under card with four holes remaining at the front. But a stroke of misfortune on the par-3 No. 6 dashed her hopes, resulting in a triple bogey and a 70 and keeping her in third place at 140, three strokes behind Kongkraphan.
Describing her stellar play, Kongkraphan attributed her success to her aggressive mindset, saying: “I challenged myself and played very aggressively.”
Looking ahead to the final round, Kongkraphan expressed her commitment to remaining on the attack mode: “I guess a 10-under total would win. But it will boil down to putting, so I have to stay in the fairways and make the putts.”
Despite a strong finish on the frontside with birdies on the last two holes for a second straight 71, Florence Bisera remained five strokes off the pace at 142, recognizing the need to fine-tune her short game and execute flawlessly to snatch the victory on the demanding Luisita layout.
The LPGT South Pacific leg champion last year rued a number of missed birdie chances, including a flubbed three-footer on No. 13 and a birdie putt from pin length on No. 15 that resulted in a three-putt miscue.
“I also struggled to hit the greens, so I need to work on my short game,” said Bisera, who tied Wad Phaewchimplee, who also carded a 71, and Chih-Yun Wu, who matched par 72, at fourth
Two withdraw due to exteme heat
Forty-three players advanced to the final round of the of the championship co-sanctioned by the LPGA of Taiwan and the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour with Chihiro Ikeda fighting back with a 74 to salvage a spot at joint 39th with a 151.
Also pooling seven-over totals were Kanyanat Saithip and Prima Thammaraks, who both shot 74s, Alisara Wedchakama, who struggled with a 75, and Unyong Polnamin, who fumbled with a 77.
However, withdrawals due to extreme heat were noted with Mikha Fortuna and Samaporn Khangkhun forced to retire after experiencing dizziness.
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