The Spirit golf: RP ladies place 9th; men’s bets 18th

The Philippines’ women’s team of Anya Tanpinco and Chihiro Ikeda saved the best on the final day, combining for a four-under-par 68 in the best ball format for a ninth place finish in The Spirit International Amateur Golf Championship in Trinity, Texas. Ikeda contributed four birdies and a bogey while Tanpinco came through with a lone birdie on the 17th hole. Overall, their 72-hole total was a five-under-par 283, 19 shots behind champion United States, which recorded a 24-under 264 after a four-under-par 68.

The RP women duo began with one-under-par 71 then matched it a day later to be at 142. However, instead of gaining ground, they shot a one-over-par 73 that dashed any hope of lurking for the championship held at the par-72 Whispering Pines Golf Club. If there’s any consolation, Ikeda was second in number of total birdies with 15. “Competition was really tough. Anya and I went through the eye of the needle this week," said Ikeda, who was accompanied by the RP contingent head and National Golf Association of the Philippines director Pablo Soon. In the men’s side, Rufino Bayron and Jessie Balasabas also rallied in the closing round with an eight-under-par 64 but it was not enough to end in the top 10. Southeast Asian Games-bound Bayron and Balasabas struggled in the first three rounds with over-par scores of 74, 76 and 73. They tallied a one-under 287 overall, good for 18th. Italy romped away with the title with a whopping 27-under 261. Three strokes adrift was runner up Korea (64-264) followed by Chinese Taipei (65-265). – Adrian Flores, GMANews.TV