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    Thai ace pounces on Yuka Saso's backnine collapse to win Manila Ladies title

    Thai ace pounces on Yuka Saso's backnine collapse to win Manila Ladies title
    Apr 12, 2019

    THAI Arpichaya Yubol pounced on Yuka Saso’s backside meltdown to win the ICTSI Manila Golf Ladies Classic crown by one shot after a closing 71 at the Manila Golf Club on Friday.

    Yubol rallied from three down with nine holes left then checked her own collapse at the finish with a closing birdie to nip the Fil-Japanese amateur, who faded with four bogeys in a five-hole stretch from the 12th hole.

    The Thai ace then recovered from a bogey on the 17th with a clutch putt from 10 feet to clinch the crown as Saso fell short of forcing a playoff when she missed a birdie putt from eight feet.

    She finished with a 72.

    Yubol, who tied Saso with a 68 after 36 holes, never got discouraged even after the reigning Asian Games gold medalist threatened to blow away the field with a solid three-under card after 10 holes to lead by three.

    Taiwanese amateur Tzu-Yi Chang, the surprise second round leader, faded with back-to-back bogeys from No. 2 but wheeled back into contention after Saso floundered, only to fade with bogeys in the last two holes for a 75.

    “I’m very happy but it’s quite surprising (to win). I really didn’t expect to win since this is my first time here and I’m not familiar with the course,” said Yubol, who pooled a four-under 209 total in the 54-hole championship. She pocketed the top $17,500 prize out of the total pot of $100,000 put up by ICTSI.

    Saso appeared headed to duplicating her romp in retaining the Philippine Ladies Amateur Open crown at MGC last February but bogeyed Nos. 12, 13, 15 and 16 then missed birdie tries in the last two holes to settle for second at 210.

    “I was playing at the front but bad breaks derailed my game at the back. But that’s golf,” said Saso.

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    Yubol’s victory also underscored Thailand’s domination of the circuit, joining compatriots Yupaporn Kawinpakorn (Pradera Verde) and Thanutra Boonraksasat (Southwoods) in the winners’ circle with six legs left in the seventh season of LPGT. The Thais also won six of 11 tournaments last season.

    Hsuan Chen, also of Taiwan, matched par 71 and tied Chang for third at 212 but claimed the runner-up prize worth $11,500 with Singapore’s Koh Sock-Hwee ending up fifth at 213 after a 68 and received $7,000.

    Thai Pimpadsorn Sangkagaro limped with a 73 and dropped to sixth at 214 while 2017 LPGT Order of Merit champion Pauline del Rosario carded a second straight 72 and tied for seventh at 215 with Thai Chommapat Pongthanarak (72) and Japanese Mina Nakayama (75).

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