GENERAL TRIAS, Cavite — Thailand’s famed golfing prowess was in full display on Wednesday as TGA Junior erected a 27-point lead over Orchard in Division II of the Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines Interclub at the Eagle Ridge Golf and Country Club’s Aoki course.
Namon Luangnitikul, only 10 years old, sparkled with 59 points — five under in stroke play — as TGA Junior hiked its total to 301 points in the four-to-play, three-to-count event.
Starting at the back, Luangnitikul smashed a powerful tee shot that reached the green of the 240-yard, par-5 11th hole.
She missed a makeable putt for albatross but missed to settle for eagle. She holed her approach for another eagle on 13 before making her first bogey on 16.
Three-under at the turn, Luangnitikul birdied 1 and 2 and dropped a shot on 7 before gaining another stroke on 8.
She found the greenside bunker off the tee on the par-4 ninth hole and blasted to within four feet for a possible birdie. But left her putt on the left side of the hole to settle for par.
TGA Junior drew 54 points from Wirada Tawinsang, another Thai and 41 points from Nicole Gan to round out the scoring.
“We invited them to play at the Interclub as part of the exchange program between the Philippines and Thailand,” said JGFP president Oliver Gan, who is also the team captain of TGA Junior.
“We wanted to raise the level of competition by bringing in the talented Thais.”
Orchard was led by Lisa Sarines who accounted for 50 of the team’s 133 output.
The Dasmariñas-based squad has a total of 274, just two points ahead of Canlubang.
Also scoring for Orchard were Mona Sarines 42 and Vito Sarines 41.
Canlubang drew 50 points from Race Manhit to outscore Orchard by one point in the second round.
Rounding out Canlubang’s scorers were Precious Zaragosa 44 and Ryiugi Suzuki 40.
Brianna Macasaet matched Luangnitikul’s 59 to power Valley to fourth spot with 269 points. The other scorers were Margaux Namoco 40 and Zian Edoc 38.
Completing the top five was Pueblo de Oro which got 51 points from Ralph Rian Batican and 39 from Rafaella Batican. The 35 of either Alonzo Retuerto or Franco Qui.
In the Developmental division, Cebu Country Club pulled away by 37 points over Del Monte after collecting 243 points after two rounds.
Eliana Mendoza led CCC with 46 points followed by Samantha Alvarez 41 and Zuri Bagaloyos 38.
Del Monte has 206 including a second-round 94. Scoring for the Bukidnon-based club were Blademher Estologa 32 and Marcus Duenas and Mico Woo who each had 31.
A far third was Pueblo de Oro 2 with 177. The scorers were Jaime Barnes 39, Gunner Velez 28 and Margaux Espina 23.
The team standings in Division II:
Championship: TGA Junior 301, Orchard 274, Canlubang 272, Valley 269, Pueblo de Oro 264, Aguinaldo 257, LDG 232, Canlubang 2 207, Riviera 179
Developmental – Cebu Country Club 243, Del Monte 206, Pueblo de Oro 177, Canlubang 3 153, Xavier 153, CCC 2 148, Mixs Nuts 126, ICA 116, Valley 2 111, Team CDO 96
