TAGAYTAY—Mookharin Ladgratok bucked a late start with a late burst at the front, firing a three-under 69 in tough condition to move on top of the stellar field, one stroke ahead of Kanpahnitnan Muanghkumaskul as the Thais took charge and the local bets faltered in the opener of the ICTSI Champion Tour presented by Champion and Taiwan LPGA at Splendido Taal Golf Club here yesterday.
de with two birdies in the last four holes at the frontside of the windswept layout and came out of the grueling stint in scorching heat with a 33-36 card in the last of the 22 flights that teed off in the $75,000 tournament serving as the kickoff leg of this year’s ICTSI Ladies Philippine Golf Tour and the fifth stage of the Taiwan LPGA Tour sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc.
“I didn’t expect to lead. I just played my game and tried to make the most of my chances,” said the 21-year-old Ladgratok, out to atone for her second round meltdown in last year’s LPGT final leg at Southwoods where she fumbled with a 75 after a lead-grabbing 66 in the first round and ended up joint third.
But the four-year pro, who mixed three birdies with the same number of bogeys at the back before hitting two birdies against a bogey in five holes at the front, expects the going to get tougher and the chase for the top $15,000 purse to get tighter in the last two days with Muanghkumaskul, winner of this year’s Taiwan LPGA Tour first leg, launching her bid for No. 2 with a 70 that featured five birdies and marred by a double-bogey and a bogey.
Taiwanese Chen Yu-ju actually set the pace with an impressive 33 at the front and a four-under card at 13 holes. But the No. 10 player in the current TLPGA Order of Merit ranking reeled back with a double-bogey on the next, hit a birdie on No. 15 but bogeyed two of the last three for a 38 for solo third at 71.
