Rianne Mikhaela Malixi arrested a two-bogey skid with a key birdie in the last three holes to stay in the running halfway through the Women’s Amateur Asia Pacific Championship at the Siam Country Club in Pattaya, Thailand Friday.
The 15-year-old prodigy posted a two-under-par 70 for a 36-hole total of 5-under 139, three shots off co-leaders Lim Jiyoo of South Korea and Mizuki Hashimoto of Japan.
Starting at the back nine, Malixi birdied three of the first four holes and bogeyed 16 before gaining another stroke on 1.
However, she bogeyed 2 and 6 to fall to 1-under for the day unt il she produced a birdie on 7.
Malixi is gunning for a second straight title following her victory last week in the Singha Thailand Junior World Championship in Thailand.
The three other Filipinas lagged far behind in the standings.
Mikhaela Fortuna was the next best Filipina on 3-over 147 after a 71.
Mafy Singson made only one birdie against three bogeys to finish on 74 for a 149 total while Lois Kaye Go birdied the first hole but slumped with four bogeys and a double bogey for 77 and 153 overall.
Meanwhile, Juvic Pagunsan and Justin delos Santos shared 19th place on 4-under 140 halfway through the Mynavi ABC Championship 2022 in Japan Friday.
Pagunsan collected four birdies against three bogeys for a one-under-par 71 while Delos Santos had six birdies against two bogeys for a 68.
Both Filipinos trail Japanese leader Riki Kawamoto by seven shots.
Kawamoto carded a 68 to lead compatriot Yuki Inamori by one shot. Shugo Imahira was third on 9-under after a 69.
Over in Shiga, Japan, Yuka Saso failed to recover from three opening bogeys and limped home in seven-over-par 79, her worst round this season, in the Toto Japan Classic at the Seta golf course in Shiga, Japan Friday.
The 20-year-old Filipino-Japanese, who shot a 73 in the first round, slipped to 77th and last place on 8-over 152.
After three bogeys, the back nine starter Saso knocked in three birdies against a bogey and a double bogey to reach the turn on 3-over 40.
Coming home, she made five bogeys in the first seven holes before closing with a birdie on 9.
Momoko Ueda was the solo leader on 10-under after a 69, one shot ahead of compatriots Miyu Yamashita and Ai Suzuki who turned in 68 and 70, respectively.
