RIANNE Malixi failed to gain ground Monday, settling for a two-birdie, two-bogey card and a 73 to virtually bow out of the title chase in the Annika Invitational in Orlando, Florida.
While the Filipina ace struggled on Eagle Creek’s tricky surface, Chinese Alice Zhao flashed superb touch on the par-73 layout’s undulating greens all day, dominating the backside with a solid six-under feat, highlighted by a brilliant five birdie-binge from No. 13.
With a 66, Zhao, with a world amateur ranking of No. 387, seized the solo lead at 134, one stroke ahead of Texan Ashleen Kaur, who matched Zhao’s flawless seven-under output highlighted with an eagle on the par-5 13th for a 135.
Malixi stood just four shots off Zhao and Sophie Stevens of the US with a 72 start last Sunday but missed three birdie chances inside 9 feet in the first seven holes marred by a birdie putt that lipped out on No. 2 and a near chip-in feat on the sixth.
She missed the par-3 No. 8 and failed to save par from eight feet, regained the stroke with a 10-foot birdie on the par-5 ninth and rued another missed chip-in bid on No. 10.
The ICTSI-backed shotmaker, out to improve on her 12th place finish in Orlando International Amateur two weeks ago, then muffed five birdie putts inside 10 feet in the last eight holes that also saw her drop another stroke on another missed green stint on No. 14 and recover the stroke on the par-5 16th from five feet.
With a 145 total the 15-year-old world No. 151 slipped from joint 13th to a share of 26th, 11 shots behind of Zhao, who earned co-medalist honors in last year’s US Women’s Amateur.
Katie Li shot a 67 for 135 and gained the last spot in the championship flight at 10:20 a.m. on No. 1.
Vanessa Borovilos kept herself in the title hunt in the second leg of this year’s American Junior Golf Association circuit with a 137 after a 68 while Kiara Romero and Trinity Beth, both of the US, tied at fifth at 140 after matching 67s.
The other fancied bets also floundered in the 54-hole championship, including AJGA top ranked player Gianna Clemente, who carded a 72 for 143, and defending champion Yana Wilson, who fumbled with a 75 for 146.
Anna Davis, who lost to Wilson in sudden death last year, rebounded from a 74 with a 70 to improve to a tie for 20th at 144 but remained too far behind Zhao.
Malixi, who won two AJGA titles last year and ranked at No. 4 at the start of the new season, will tee-off at 8:50 a.m., also on the first hole, with Elizabeth Rudisill, who fired a 71, from North Carolina and Grace McGovern from Arizona, who shot a 72, for 145s.
