Ralph Rian Batican lost his overnight lead at the turn but rallied with two birdies coming home to win the boys’ Class D in the Asian Junior Masters at the Blue Canyon Country Club Course in Phuket, Thailand Sunday.
Batican, who started the round with a four-shot lead, opened with back-to-back birdies but his game went south in the next seven holes.
He bogeyed 3 and 5, dropped three shots on 6, bogeyed 7, and double-bogeyed 9 to reach the turn on 6-over 42.
Thai Kulladech Samsen played the first nine holes on 1-over to seize command going into the back nine.
Batican bounced back with a birdie on 10 and restored a two-shot lead after Kulladech bogeyed 12 and 14.
The Pueblo de Oro star birdied 15 for good measure, finishing with four-over-par 76 and a 15-over total after 54 holes.
It was Batican’s second victory in as many weeks. He posted a commanding win during the JGFP Pueblo de Oro Junior Open in Cagayan de Oro City last week.
Kulladech came in second on 18-over after a 75.
A pair of Thais, Pacharakan Kleawthanong and Thanatwat Klaituptim, tied for third on 25-over following a 79 and 82, respectively.
Vito Sarines shared ninth place on 37-over after a closing 84.
In the girls’ Class D, Lisa Sarines salvaged fourth place on 13-over after shooting a 77.
Thai Paricha Jitsaree carded a 75 to win the category on 2-over.
Mona Sarines came in ninth on 35-over after an 85 while Brittany Tamayo placed 12th on 65-over following a 92.
