Sarines fires 71, secures early lead

Philippine Amateur ladies champion Lisa Sarines opened strong at the Philippine Ladies Open, mixing three birdies with three bogeys to take the early lead at Manila Golf Club on Tuesday.

The 14-year-old was the only player to shoot even par 71, finishing the day a stroke ahead of 15-year-olds Precious Zaragosa and Alanna Tee from Hong Kong.

Zaragosa started hot, reaching the turn at one-under, but stumbled with two bogeys on the back nine. Tee, meanwhile, bogeyed two of her final three holes.

Tied for fourth at 73 were Tashi Balangauan of Cebu and 11-year-old Athena Batican from Cagayan de Oro.

Balangauan, 16, made three birdies against two bogeys early on, but struggled with four bogeys and just a lone birdie in the closing stretch. Batican had a solid day with two birdies and two bogeys, though a double bogey edged her back.

Among the foreign contenders, Thailand’s Tanjira Issaraphon was the best-placed, carding 74, a score matched by Crista Minoza of Del Monte.

Meanwhile, pre-tournament favorite Nicole Gaisano Gan had a shaky start, going 5-over on her first five holes, but managed to steady herself for a 77.

The leading scores:

71 — Lisa Sarines

72 — Precious Zaragosa, Alanna Tee (Hong Kong)

73 — Athena Batican, Tashi Balangauan

74 — Crista Minoza, Tanjira Issaraphon (Thailand)

75 — Zero Plete

76 — Junia Gabasa, Brittany Tamayo, Alessandra Luciano

77 — Nicole Gaisano Gan

78 — Johanna Blair Uyking, Ngampan Chantana (Thailand), Lia Duque

79 — Isabella Tabanas, Annika Cruz, Zuri Bagaloyos, Mona Sarines

80 — Chloe Ang, Aerin Chan, Passion Hsu (Singapore), Rafa Anciano

81 — Cailey Gonzales, Marqaela Dy, Juliane Gaerlan, Eliana Dumalaog.