It was a double-double for the Philippines as four Filipino amateurs finished 1-2 in the men’s and women’s individual competitions at the close of the ninth Karambunai Amateur Open held recently in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia.

The ICTSI-backed Ferdie Aunzo carded a three-under-par 69 and tied the course record at the Nexus Golf Club to win the title with a 216 total over teammate Tonlits Asistio, who finished with a record-breaking five-under 67 for 221.

For turning in a record score, Asistio was awarded a special prize of a round-trip ticket to Hong Kong.

Aunzo, a member of the Philippine men’s golf team that saw action at the Southeast Asian Games in Thailand last year, pulled away with an even par after six holes, while his closest pursuers—Nicholas Funf of Malaysia and Chin Jun-Nian of Chinese-Taipei—were already five strokes down.

The only challenge to Aunzo came from Asistio, who was at four-under after the 13th hole. However, Aunzo matched Asistio’s birdie on No. 13, then added another on the next hole to fend off the late charge.

“From out of nowhere, Tonlits [Asistio] was suddenly in the thick of the fight. It was a good thing that I squeezed out consecutive birdies. Otherwise, I would have been in deep trouble,” Aunzo told the BusinessMirror.

Cyna Marie Rodriguez, on the other hand, produced a final day of three-over 75 to grab the crown in the women’s division over compatriot and reigning Philippine National Amateur champion Anya Tanpinco.

Rodriguez, a full scholar at the IMG Golf Academy, rebounded from a so-so eight-over-par 80 with a one-over-par 73 (36-37) on Saturday. Her 75 yesterday brought her aggregate to 228, four shots clear of Tanpinco’s.

“It feels great to get a victory here. This would be a good prep-me-up for me before doing battle in the bigger Malaysian Amateur Open later this month,” Rodriguez also told the BusinessMirror.

Tanpinco, who also had an 80 on Day One, only managed a pair of 76s in the next two days for 232, good for a runner-up position. Malaysian Diana Tham was behind with 254 after an 82.

Thais bring brooms, too

Meanwhile, powerhouse Thailand swept the top individual and team honors at the close of the 29th Asia-Pacific Junior Golf Championship Friday presented by the Department of Tourism at the Sherwood Hills Golf Club course in Trece Martires, Cavite.

Led by overall titlist Moriya Jutanugarn, the Thais pooled a final-round 143 to run away with the girls’ team crown at the expense of the touted South Koreans and the Taiwanese, who managed 145s.

The Thais wound up at 424, the Koreans 435 and the Taiwanese 441. The Filipinos submitted their best effort of 147 for 448.

Khrongppa Thanyakorn then warded off his Taiwanese pursuers with a two-under-par 70 to claim the boys’ overall title and lift Thailand to the team championship.

Counting his earlier rounds of 66-73-75, Thanyakorn posted a 284 total that proved to be the difference in the Thais’ see-saw battle with the Taiwanese and the Indians.

The Thais netted an 870, just one shot ahead of the Taiwanese, who wound up at 871, and the Indians, who finished at 874. Malaysia ended up fourth (220-887), Korea fifth (219-895), the Philippines sixth (223-912), Hong Kong seventh (233-942) and Guam eighth (237-968).

The boys’ Class A title went to Taiwanese Hsieh Chi-hsien, who also fired a 70 for 286. Another Taiwanese, Tao Huang, was third with his 70-287.

Showing depth, Indians Ashbeer Singh Saini and Chikkarangappa Seenappa landed 1-2 in boys’ Class B.

Saini matched par for a 72-hole total of 291, while erstwhile pacesetter Chikkarangappa skied to a 77.

Competing in Class B, Jutanarugarn closed out with a four-over-par 76 and a 54-hole total of 214 to best even Class A winner Hiseh Yu-ling of Chinese-Taipei (71-216) and runner-up Lee Mjungolgin-young (75-218) of South Korea.

The Class B plum went to Korea’s Kim Ji-hee, who shot 73 for 224, nine strokes up on the RP bet Sarah Jane Ababa, who carded a 74 for 233.

The best local performers in the girls’ division were Sunshine Baraquiel, who fired a 72 to catch up with reigning Philippine Ladies titlist Chihiro Ikeda (75) at 225, good for eighth overall. 

At a loss for answers

SALT LAKE CITY—Pau Gasol couldn’t stop watching the highlights, if that’s the correct word, after the Lakers’ Game Three loss to Utah.

Harbour, Hapee seeking 2-0 lead in PBL semis

DESPITE the cool weather, defending champion Harbour Centre and Hapee Toothpaste hope to sustain their hot start today when they clash against their separate rivals in Game Two of their respective semis series in the Philippine Basketball League Lipovitan Amino Sports Cup at the University of Cordilleras Gym in Baguio City.

It was a double-double for the Philippines as four Filipino amateurs finished 1-2 in the men’s and women’s individual competitions at the close of the ninth Karambunai Amateur Open held recently in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia.

SUBIC—On a day the vaunted Chinese delegation unraveled its full might, GM Wesley So kept Filipino pride alive  by humbling Haoxiang Jia of China and staying in contention after six rounds in the $40,000 Philippine Open international chess championship at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center here on Saturday.

MIGGY Corcuera erupted for two home runs including a pivotal four-bagger in the seventh as the Cebu Dolphins beat the Dumaguete Unibikers, 14-4, in Baseball Philippines Series III Sunday at the Rizal Ballpark.

Run don’t walk

There was this print ad done by Leagas Delaney London in 1996 for adidas that gave an accurate glimpse of what goes on in a runner’s mind when his feet are leaden and he’s moving on sheer willpower:

“Just to the signpost. Just to the car. Just to the crossroads. Just to the curb. Just to the truck. Just to the signpost…”