CARMONA, Cavite — Rianne Malixi failed to keep pace with Avani Prashanth, shooting a one-over-par 73 that dropped her to a share of second place in the individual division of the 43rd Queen Sirikit Cup at the Manila Southwoods Golf and Country Club Wednesday.
Starting the day tied for the lead, the 15-year-old Filipina opened with a birdie but made three bogeys in the next six holes. She closed the front nine with back-to-back birdies to go back to even par for the day.
Malixi bogeyed the par-5 15th hole coming home to join Korean Yoo Hyunjo and Fiona Xu of New Zealand on 3-under, seven shots behind Prashanth.
The red-hot Indian finished with birdie-eagle-birdie-birdie to fire a 66.
In the team event, South Korea extended its lead behind a pair of 71s by Yoo Hyun-jo and Kim Min-sol.
The Koreans improved to 281, four shots ahead of India.
Defending champion Japan, China and Hong Kong were all tied on 288, followed by Thailand 289 and the host Philippines 290.
“Our girls were not able to adjust to the sudden shift of conditions at the Masters,” said Philippine captain Ann Granada.
Mafy Singson counted with a 75 while Lois Kaye Go continued to struggle with an 80.
“I am looking forward to that moving day on Thursday. We need to forget what happened today and see how we can get into title contention tomorrow,” Granada said.
