Suksukont clinches Ladies Masters title

STA. ROSA, Laguna, Philippines — Renuka Suksukont bounced back from two costly miscues with clutch birdies and foiled fellow Thai Chayanun Chonlada in their day-long shootout to capture the ICTSI Philippine Ladies Masters crown by two on a 72 at The Country Club here yesterday.

On the brink of blowing an overnight four-stroke lead with nine holes to play, Suksukont toughened up after a triple bogey on the par-4 No. 9, firing back-to-back birdies to open her backside bid then pouncing on Chonlada’s bogey-bogey from No. 15 to complete a wire-to-wire victory.

“This (win) is memorable because I made it on my first try,” said Suksukont, a Phatum Thani native who pooled a five-under 211 and took the top purse of $12,000 while leading an impressive Thai sweep of the top three places in the $80,000 event co-sanctioned by China and Taiwan LPGA Tours and Ladies Philippine Golf Tour.

It was also Suksukont’s first victory on the China LPGA Tour after posting six Top 10 finishes.

“I really didn’t expect to win given the quality of the competition but I did it,” said Suksukont, who also kept the crown which compatriot Saranporn Langkulgasettrin won over Princess Superal last year.

The 24-year-old Chonlada gunned down two birdies in a solid frontside stint and tied Suksukont at three-under overall after the latter triple-bogeyed No. 9 following a birdie on No. 8 for a 38. That set the stage for a backside shootout between the two Thai aces.

Make it three as Ploychompoo Wirairungreung rallied from seven down to within one off Suksukont with a scorching six-under card after 14 holes. But she bogeyed the par-3 17th and finished with a 67, sharing runner-up honors with Chonlada, who wound up with a 70, at 213.

Suksukont nearly blew it after fumbling on the ninth fairway softened by overnight rains where she needed two extra shots to reach the green and signed for a 7, enabling Chonlada to draw level. Two-up with two holes to go, she dumped her 9-iron tee-shot on the par-3 17th and needed two blasts to get out.

But on both occasions, she didn’t crumble. She struck back with clutch birdies, regaining the lead with back-to-back feats from No. 10.