TEAM Philippines got off to a slow start as Dottie Ardina and Clare Legaspi hobbled with a pair of four-over par 76s to fall back seven shots behind a hot-starting Thailand and Japan in the first round of the Asia-Pacific Ladies Invitational golf team championship in Taiwan yesterday.
Ardina, coming into the event with a series of victories here and abroad, and Legaspi struggled in the wind and on the slow putting surface of the Sunrise Golf and Country Club, dropping too many shots at the back as they combined for a 152 for joint sixth with Malaysia in the 11-team field.
Cyna Rodriguez, a fellow ICTSI team mainstay of Ardina and the reigning Hong Kong Am champion, skied to an 80 and failed to count in the three-to-play, two-to-count format event also known as the Queen Sirikit Cup.
Omnicha Konsuthea matched par 72 in tough condition while Benyapa Niphatsophon carded a 73 as they led Thailand’s charge of 145 for a share of the lead with Japan, which drew the day’s best of 70 from Haruka Morita and a 75 from Mayu Hosaka. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio