The Philippine women’s golf team of Chihiro Ikeda, Dottie Ardina, and Mia Piccio celebrate after winning the gold medal in the team competitions of the Laos Southeast Asian Games. (Photo by ALBERT GARCIA)

VIENTIANE, Laos – Chihiro Ikeda sank a pressure-packed four-foot putt to defeat Yupaporn Kawinpakorn of Thailand on the third playoff hole and power the Philippines to a sweep of the women’s event in golf in the 25th Southeast Asian Games Monday.

The 18-year-old Ikeda fired a two-under-par 70 in regulation to force a playoff with Yupaporn who faltered with two bogeys in the last five holes for even par 72.

Dottie Ardina matched Ikeda’s 70 to edge Thailand by three shots in the team event.

The men’s team was not as fortunate, losing a three-horse race to Thailand and Singapore to settle for the bronze.

Four down at the start of the day, the Filipinos seized the lead after the front nine as Jhonnel Ababa, Tonton Asistio and Jude Eustaquio combined for five-under, but could not hang on in one of the closest team battles in Games history.

The Philippines, Thailand and Singapore were all tied after 15 holes, but Ababa and Eustaquio were undone by bogeys in the 18th hole.

Ababa three-putted from 25 feet while Eustaquio pulled his tee shot into the high grass.

The Filipinos finished the final round at six-under on Asistio’s 69, Ababa’s 70 and Eustaquio’s 71 to miss the playoffs by two shots. Mhark Fernando failed to count with a 74.

“The shots we gave up in the first two rounds were too much. But we nearly pulled it off,” said RP coach Tommy Manotoc, referring to their 11-shot deficit after two rounds.

“Aside from the bogeys on the 18th, our failure to birdie the 17th which is a short par-5 also contributed to our downfall,” Manotoc said.

The Filipinos finished with 847, two shots behind Thailand and Singapore.

Thailand went on to take the team gold, edging Singapore in the playoff.

The women’s team opened the final round with a one-shot lead, but quickly lost it at the turn and trailed by two shots.

But Ikeda and Ardina birdied the first – their 10th hole – to draw level.

The Filipinas seized the lead for good when Yupaporn and Thidapa Suwannapura, Ardina’s flightmate, bogeyed No. 4.

After Yupaporn dropped another shot on No. 6, Ikeda birdied the next hole to draw level going into the final two holes in regulation.

Ikeda had a chance to win it on the final green, but left a dowhill four-foot putt short of the hole.

“Kinabahan ako doon,” she admitted.

After signing their scorecards, Ikeda and Yupaporn returned to the 18th hole to start their playoff.

The third extra hole boiled down to putting when Ikeda and Yupaporn hit their approach shots near each other, about 20 feet off the pin. Both putts ended nearly equidistant to the hole, needing a rules official to determine who putts first.

Yupaporn, putting first, pulled her putt, setting the stage for Ikeda’s remarkable win.

“Pagod na ako coach,” were the first words that came from Ikeda’s lips when she was hugged by RP women’s coach Bong Lopez.