Avaricio’s late bogeys sink Top-Four bid in Bangkok

Chanelle Avaricio

STAR / File

MANILA, Philippines — Chanelle Avaricio came agonizingly close to securing a Top-4 finish before two costly bogeys over the closing stretch dashed her hopes.

The miscues forced the Filipina to settle for a share of eighth in the Singha-NDSF Ladies Open ruled wire-to-wire by Thailand’s Jaravee Boonchant at Windson Park Golf Club in Bangkok on Friday.

Needing a strong finish after starting the final round five shots behind, Avaricio fought her way into contention with a spirited charge. She birdied Nos. 3 and 6 to gain ground, recovered from a bogey on the eighth with another birdie on the 13th, and briefly climbed to eight-under overall, where she was in position to tie for fourth alongside Thailand’s Kan Bunnabodee.

But just when a strong finish in the tournament appeared within reach, Avaricio faltered. Bogeys on the final two holes dropped her back to a closing 72 and a 54-hole total of six-under 210, leaving her tied for eighth with Thailand’s Pattharat Rattanawan, who charged back with a 66.

Despite the disappointing finish, Avaricio still emerged as the highest-placed player outside the host contingent, underscoring her ability to contend against a field dominated by Thai golfers. Her campaign was highlighted by a superb opening-round 67 that put her firmly in the title chase before succeeding rounds of 71 and 72 slowed her momentum.

Boonchant, meanwhile, completed a wire-to-wire triumph but not without surviving a tense final-round challenge from compatriot Nattarika Sensai.

Protecting a two-shot lead entering the final day, the LPGA and Korean LPGA veteran carded a steady 70 for a 13-under 203 total in the THB1.5-million championship. Sensai nearly forced a playoff after closing with a brilliant five-under 67, highlighted by birdies on the last two holes, but ultimately finished one stroke short at 204.

Parinda Phokan, Boonchant’s closest pursuer after 36 holes, settled for solo third at 206 after a closing 71, while Bunnabodee rallied with a 68 to share fourth at 208.

Another Ladies Philippine Golf Tour standout, young Korean Tiffany Lee, was unable to build on an impressive second-round 69. She struggled with a final-round 74 and slipped into a tie for 17th at three-under 213.

Yvon Bisera, backed by ICTSI, also endured an up-and-down finish. After vaulting into contention with a sparkling second-round 66, the Thai Ladies Masters winner last year mixed five birdies with seven bogeys in the final round for a 74, finishing tied for 26th at 215.

Harmie Constantino fumbled with a 76 to place tied for 35th at 217, while Daniella Uy also shot 76 to end up tied for 52nd at 221. Mafy Singson closed with a 78 and finished 62nd at 225.

In Taiwan, Sean Ramos endured his toughest round in months, stumbling to a seven-over 79 to finish last among the players who made the cut in the HCT ADT Open at Hsin Feng Golf Country Club.

The rising Filipino, who entered the final round looking to climb the leaderboard, instead struggled with seven bogeys and a double bogey against just two birdies. His closing 79 left him 51st at five-over 293, following earlier rounds of 71, 71 and 72.

Taiwan’s Lu Wei Chih birdied the 72nd hole to salvage a 72 and force a three-man playoff at 15-under 273 with compatriot Wang Wei Hsuan, who fired a 65, and Mako Shapiyate, who closed with a 68.

Lu, however, wasted little time sealing the championship, draining another birdie on the first playoff hole to claim the victory.