3 storm to Champ Tour lead as Polnamin, Superal tumble

TAGAYTAY, Philippines — Thai Ploychompoo Wilairungrueng flubbed a 10-foot birdie putt on No. 9 and settled for a 69, dropping to joint lead with compatriot Renuka Suksukont and Taiwanese Ching Huang as erstwhile leader Pannapa Polnamin faltered in the second round of the $75,000 ICTSI Champion Tour at Tagaytay Midlands here yesterday.

That final hole miss actually typified Wilairungrueng’s struggle on Midlands’ unpredictable putting surface that saw her muff six other birdie chances but the 23-year-old ace from Chiang Rai still moved in the threshold of a second straight championship as Polnamin limped with a 75 in tough conditions in afternoon play.

“I’m not getting enough birdies but I’m happy to be among the leaders,” said Wilairungrueng, who ran away with the rain-shortened ICTSI Champion Tour at Manila Southwoods with a bogey-free 10-under card last week.

“I will just try to have fun tomorrow (today) and not expect too much. But make no mistake about it, I want to win again,” she added.

So do Suksukont and Huang, who shot 69 and 70, respectively, to force a three-way tie for the lead at seven-under 137 with another Thai, title-hungry Tiranan Yoopan, seizing solo fourth at 138 after a 70 and Nattagate Nimitpongkul also carding a 70 to join Polnamin at 139, guaranteeing a wild finish in the final event of this year’s Ladies Philippine Golf Tour put up by ICTSI.

But Princess Superal, the best local bet with a 68 Wednesday, groped for her long game after a birdie-start at the back. She bogeyed Nos. 14 and 15 and yielded four more strokes in the first three holes at the front, including a double-bogey on the par-5 second. She, however, hit three straight birdies from No. 5 and saved a 74. From a share of fourth, Superal fell to joint 14th at 142, five strokes behind the joint leaders.

Amateur Lois Kaye Go, however, took up the cudgels for the embattled hosts as she stole the thunder in morning play by firing the day’s best 65, putting her back into contention at 140 for joint seventh with Thais Chonlada Chayanun and Supamas Sangchan, who turned in a 70 and 72, respectively.