FILIPINA teenager Carmelette Villaroman held off the challenge of Hongkong's Joann Hardwick to win the Philippine Open women's amateur championship in Manila yesterday. Five shots behind Villaroman overnight, Hardwick reduced the gap to three over the final round but could not catch the 16-year-old prodigy. ''I wasn't hitting the ball close enough to the flag to give me birdie chances,'' said the 27-year-old Hongkong number one after closing with a four-over-par 76 at the Manila Golf and Country Club. Hardwick's 54-hole aggregate of 225 left her tied with defending champion Wong Lixia of China, three shots adrift of Villaroman who carded a nervy 78. Following their five-hour round, Hardwick and Wong were required to return to the course for a sudden-death play-off to determine second place. They halved the first hole in bogey-fives before Hardwick clinched the runners-up spot with a par-four at the next. Although Zhongshan Hot Spring Golf Club representative Wong relinquished her crown, it was a good tournament for the mainland Chinese girls. Two shots behind Wong in fourth place on 227 was first-round leader Lam Shiyu with Lam Yinmay claiming fifth position after a play-off with Philippine international Ruby Chico. There was also an encouraging performance from Hongkong's Bronwen Morrow. Her final round of 78 lifted her into ninth place on 246.
