Malixi shares third

Rianne Mikhaela Malixi made only one birdie and settled for an even-par 72 and a tie for third place at the close of the Women's Asia Pacific Championship at the Siam Country Club in Pattaya, Thailand Sunday.

Just one shot down at the start of the day, the 15-year-old Filipina stumbled with a bogey on the sixth hole after five straight pars.

Although she avoided any more mistakes, Malixi came through with only one birdie on 12.

She completed 72 holes on 7-under 281, four strokes off Huang Ting-Hsuan who carded a 69 for a two-shot win over Thai Vongtaveelap Natthakritta.

Huang had six birdies against three bogeys.

Vongtaveelap shot a 71 for 279.

Tied with Malixi were Korean Lee Hyosong and Yuna Araki who submitted 66 and 69, respectively.

Mikhaela Fortuna, the other Filipina who advanced into the weekend play, returned a 74 for a share of 39th on 293.

Over in Japan, Justin de los Santos bucked a pair of three-putt bogeys to close with a four-under-par 68 in the Mynavi ABC Championship 2022 in Japan Sunday.

The 27-year-old Filipino, who grew up in the United States finished in a tie for 11th place on 10-under 278 and collected 2,448,000 yen (roughly P974,000).

He knocked in six birdies against two bogeys to finish seven strokes behind Japanese winner Mikumu Horikawa who had a 67.

Three Japanese — Hiroshi Iwata, Daijiro Izumida and Riki Kawamoto — shared second on 273. Iwata carded a 67, Izumida shot a 69 while Kawamoto returned a 68.

Juvic Pagunsan came in joint 43rd on 285 following a 73.

He earned 420,000 yen (P167,000).

Meanwhile, Yuka Saso finished strongly with a seven-under par 65 to climb to a share of 51st place in the Toto Japan Classic at the Seta golf course in Shiga, Japan Sunday.

The 20-year-old Filipino-Japanese fires an eagle and six birdies against a lone bogey to complete 72 holes on 1-under 287.

It was a huge turnaround for the long-hitting ICTSI-backed golfer who recovered from a season worst 79 in the second round.

She missed only three fairways off and four greens.

Gemma Dryburgh won the event on 20-under 168 after a closing 65.

Four shots behind was Japanese Kana Nagai who also had a 65.

Alone in third on 273 was Linn Grant who shot a 67.