Tanpinco, teams claim golf silvers

NAKHON RATCHASIMA – The RP golfers played catch-up to the very end and settled for three silver medals at the close of the SEAG golf competitions here yesterday.

The RP men’s and women’s squads even floundered at the finish but salvaged three silvers as the hosts posted a stirring sweep of four gold medals at the Bonanza Golf and Country Club course in Khaoyai.

Anya Tanpinco, the lone holdover from the original women’s squad, emerged the team’s best performer with second-place finishes in the individual and team competitions.

Tanpinco, from Bacolod, carded a three-over 75 for 216, which proved enough for second behind P Kongkraphan, who closed out with a 70 for 210.

Regina de Guzman also counted for the first time, carding a 75 as the RP ladies wound up with a three-day haul of 439, nine strokes behind the Thais’ winning 430 output.

Chihiro Ikeda limped home with a 79 and didn’t count in the final day of SEAG golf where the Philippines harvested two golds and two silvers at The Country Club in 2005.

Ferdie Aunzo fired a five-under 67 with Jhonel Ababa adding a 70 and Anthony Fernando a 72 as the men’s team rallied with a seven-under 209 to snatch the silver from Malaysia and Indonesia with an 858.

The hosts ran away with the crown with an 838 aggregate for a whopping 20-shot win.

Aunzo’s last-day charge, however, could only propel him to fourth place, missing the individual bronze medal by two strokes.

Anthony Fernando was 14th in the men’s individual with a closing 72-290, Mark Fernando was 19th at 74-293 and Ababa 22nd at 70-294.

Ikeda and De Guzman, replacements to Jayvie Agojo and Dottie Ardina, placed eighth place and ninth, respectively, in women’s play.

Ikeda finished with a 79 for 227 and De Guzman 75 for 229.