THE PHILIPPINES failed to draw big rounds from its ladies’ team for the third straight day as it settled for a combined three-under par 141 for 16th place with one round left in the 2005 Spirit International Amateur Golf Championships, reduced to a two-team affair between England and South Africa in Houston Friday.
Marvin Dumandan and Gene Bondoc slowed down with a four-under 68 after a 66 in the second round but hardly moved up as the tandem of Lora Roberto and Anya Tanpinco continued to struggle in the face of classy opposition in the ladies side of this biennial event at the Whispering Pines Golf course.
After two 74s that stymied Dumandan and Bondoc’s efforts in the first two rounds, Roberto and Tanpinco carded a 73, giving the Philippines a 141 and a 54-hole aggregate of 421 in overall team championship.
That was 19 strokes behind England, which fired a 34 to barely keep a one-stroke lead over a charging South Africa, which shot the day’s best combined scores of 133 for a 403.
Defending champion USA likewise churned out a 134 but fell three strokes off the pace.
After a solid outing in Thursday where he spiked his round with an eagle-birdie feat, Dumandan had three birdies but fumbled with six pickups, while Bondoc came up with a three-birdie, one-bogey round marred by seven pickups.
Tanpinco, hoping to join Jayvie Agojo and Frances Bondad in the RP team competing in next month’s Southeast Asian Games, had only one birdie against two bogeys and 9 pickups while Roberto made two birdies, three bogeys and had 6 pickups.
