Thailand’s Renuka Suksukont fended off stern challenges from compatriots Chonlada Chayanun and Ploychompoo Wilairungrueng, posting a final-round even-par 72 for a total 5-under 211 to win the ICTSI Philippine Ladies Masters – the richest event this year on the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour (LPGT) – by two strokes and the US$12,000 first prize.

While Suksukont was a wire-to-wire winner, it was certainly no walk in the park despite her holding a four-stroke lead to open the final Saturday. Chayanun twice grabbed a share of the lead around the turn, but failed to make that one last push, finishing at a 3-under total of 213 – capped by a final-round 70 – to take the equal-second-place prize of US$6,000 alongside Wilairungrueng, who recorded the low-round of the tournament with a 5-under 67.

Japan’s Step Up Tour player Hsieh Yu-Ling (謝瑀玲) finished as the top Taiwanese in a tie for sixth at 1-over 217 after a Saturday even-par 72.

Also wrapped up the US$80,000 event at The Country Club at 217 and equal sixth were China LPGA member Zhang Jienalin (張捷娜林) and Filipino-Japanese amateur Yuka Saso.

Lee Chia-Pei (李佳霈) and Wu Yi-Ching (伍以晴) used final-round 72 and 74, respectively, to sit equal ninth at 218 total. Amateur Taiwanese Hung Jo-Hua (洪若華) dropped from equal fifth into a tie for twelfth finishing with a 75 on the final day and a three-round total of 219.

The best amateur honor belonged to Hwang Min Jeong of Korea, who registered a final-round 71 for a 215 total, giving her a solo fourth finish.

Today, Suksukont opened with a four-shot lead and kept a three-shot edge over her nearest rivals after eight holes but on hole 9, a triple bogey struck after Suksukont’s pitch was brought away from the hole repeatedly by a steep green-side slope and suddenly, Chayanun found herself tied for the lead.

Suksukont was calmed quickly, making consecutive birdies on the 10th and 11th to emerge as the outright leader again not long before Chayanun stormed back with birdies on no.11 and 13. However, Chayanun’s hope was diminished as she dropped two shots on 15th and 16th, leaving her fate to be decided by the wire-to-wire leader. A composed Suksukont rolled in the last putt to close out bogey-birdie to finally lift her first international title.

Wilairungrueng, after fourteen holes, was at one point just one shot behind Suksukont and Chayanun but missed out a few chances to really take over. She had to share the second place with Chayanun at 211 after a bogey on the 17th hole. Her 33-34 finish of 67 was the low-round of this year’s ICTSI Philippine Ladies Masters.

Despite misfortune on the very first hole where she dunked her tee shot to the roughs and had to start the round with a bogey, Hsieh Yu-Ling got back into groove on the seventh hole, notching two birdies in a row with strong short game displays. The Japan’s secondary “Step Up Tour” player worked the round back at even which brought her into a tie for sixth at 217 total.

Hsieh expressed thanks to main sponsors CTBC Bank and Wang J.Y. Trust and aimed to “graduate” from the Step Up Tour in 2018 to earn a main Japan LPGA Tour card. “I feel like I let myself and people around me down that I couldn’t complete my goal in my first year on the Step Up Tour,” said Hsieh. “But good thing is, I’m still qualified to play on the circuit for another year. I hope I can take it this time. I’ve learned a lot over the past season, especially on how to adjust the mindset and game plan when the courses are so different every week.”

Blaming on her iron play that set her back, Wu Yi-Ching only made eight greens in regulation in her final-round, which left her constantly catching up the pace. “Take away the double-bogey on the fourth and the water penalty that resulted in a bogey on the tenth, I felt I played a solid round,” said Wu, who needed 25 putts and carded a 74 to sit in the top ten at equal ninth, her best finish in 2017.

Lee Chia-Pei completed a 73-73-72 total of 218 after three birdies and three bogeys. Hung Jo-Hua concluded with a 3-over 75 to fall down seven places to twelfth at 219.

The ICTSI Philippine Ladies Masters marks the very first three-way link-up in TLPGA Tour history, by the TLPGA, the LPGT, and the CLPGA. The TLPGA Tour and the LPGT have held hands in promoting women’s golf by putting up professional events for the third straight season. The tournament is the 15th of 16 legs on the TLPGA Tour, as well as the 10th event of 11 on Ladies Philippine Golf Tour’s (LPGT) 2017 calendar.