Thai Amolkan Phalajivin closed with a two-over 74 to dominate the ICTSI Ladies Philippine Golf Tour Qualifying School at the Eagle Ridge Golf and Country Club in Cavite on Friday.
Amolkan assembled 224 to win the 54-hole qualifier by two shots over a charging Korean Kwon Seo Yon, who fired the final day’s best round of two-under 70.
Kwon’s compatriot Park You Ra placed third with 227 after a final-round 74 while ICTSI amateur mainstays Samantha Martirez (78) and Mika Fortuna (83) wound up 4-5 at 231 and 236, respectively.
Japanese amateur Yuka Saso (76), Korean Kim So Yoon (80) and Filipina Ashia Marie Nocum (81) posted scores of 237, 239, and 240, respectively, to make the cut for the eight-leg Ladies Philippine Golf Tour.
The 26-year-old Amolkan struggled with three bogeys against a lone birdie in the front but managed a decent 35 at the finish to hold off Kwon in the elims organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.
In fifth spot entering the final round, Kwon gave chase and shot a one-under 35 at the start to inch to within two off the Thai ace. But she went on to shoot just one more birdie at the back to settle for No. 2.
Park shot par after nine holes but limped home with four bogeys to slip to third overall.
Martirez had a 39-39 round, which gave her a 231, while Fortuna bucked a 42-41 card marred by an eight-over score at the par-4 No. 3 to log 236, still safe inside the 240 ceiling.
The ICTSI LPGT kicks off its eight-leg circuit on April 16-18 at the Orchard in Dasmarinas, Cavite.
Cyna Rodriguez, the ICTSI LPGT’s inaugural Order of Merit winner, is expected to head the Orchard cast along with Jayvie Agojo, Lovelynn Guioguio, Sarah Ababa, Anya Tanpinco, Apple Fudolin, Tracy Que, Lucy Landicho, Heidi Chua, Mary Grace Estuesta, Sylvia Torres, Jan Punzalan, Reb Bareng, Eva Minoza, Barsy Leonen and Chihiro Ikeda.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
