BAGUIO – Cashing in on a two-shot swing on No. 17, Chakansim Khamborn caught Chommapat Pongthanarak at the helm, keeping the Thais on track for another title romp on the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour.

Khamborn birdied the par-5 penultimate hole then watched Pongthanarak drop a stroke to force a tie at 135 after a pair of 66s that lined up the country’s perennial regional rivals to another victory in the ICTSI Camp John Hay Ladies Championship at John Hay Golf Club here yesterday.

Pongthanarak actually looked poised to seizing the solo lead with a four-under card built on a three-birdie binge at the back but stumbled with a late bogey while Khamborn capped her backside rally with a birdie as they remained on top heading to the last 18 holes of the P1.5 million event put up by ICTSI.

The Thais have won four of the last five legs of the recently concluded LPGT season.

Khamborn and Pongthanarak were among the six players who wrested control in a crowded leaderboard Wednesday with Pongthanarak storming ahead with back-to-back birdies from No. 2 and rebounding from a double-bogey mishap on No. 5 with four birdies in an eight-hole stretch from No. 9.

But Pongthanarak, who shared fifth place at Mt. Malarayat last May, missed the cut at Summit Point last June and tied for 16th at Champion Tour at Southwoods last July, lost her touch and momentum on the 17th, holing out with a 6 in a mishap which Khamborn, out to atone for her so-so 32nd place finish at Champion Tour at Midlands last July, took advantage of to earn a crack at the crown and the top P350,000 purse.

While erstwhile co-leaders Princess Superal and amateur Mariel Tee failed to keep in step and reeled back with 71 and 74, respectively, Waralee Atcharerk and Korean amateur Lee Ji Hyeon stayed in the hunt with 67 and 68 for 136 and 137, respectively, guaranteeing a final round shootout among at least four players in the tournament serving as the second leg of the new LPGT season.

Onkanok Soisuwan wavered at back with a 36 and settled for a second 70 for joint fifth with Superal, who failed to sustain a birdie on No. 2 with three bogeys in the next seven then blew a birdie feat on No. 12 with a final hole bogey for a 71. They pooled 140s and fell five strokes behind the joint leaders.

Numa Gulyanamitta and Ornicha Konsunthea assembled 141s on a 69 and 70, respectively, while Tee, who turned in an impressive 69 in the first round, crumbled with a 74 and slipped to ninth at 143 with Thais Goonlacha Paiboonpong, who shot a 70, and Supakchaya Pattaranakrueang, who hobbled with a 72.

Daniella Uy also missed gaining ground after a birdie-birdie opening as the rookie pro went on a roller-coaster ride the rest of the way, making four bogeys and a double bogey against three more birdies. She finished with a 70 and tied Cyna Rodriguez, who limped with a 75, and Thai Kamonwan Lueamsri, who carded a 73, at 145, 10 strokes off the pace in the event backed by Custom Clubmakers, BDO, Meralco, Sharp, KZGm PLDT, Champion, Summit Mineral Water and K&G Golf.