Bacolod's pride Mia Piccio ousted another seasoned player yesterday but fell short of the title after bowing to Frances Bondad, 2-and-1, in the women's finals, while Juvic Pagunsan sealed a titular clash with Malaysian Siva Chandrah in the 2005 RP Amateur Championships at the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club.

The 13-year-old Piccio, ranked fourth at the end of the 36-hole classification, showed composure beyond her years in taking out top seed Carmelette Villaroman, 1-up, yesterday morning and was poised for another upset win.

But Bondad, a Filipina based in Australia, had other things in mind. She erased a 1-down deficit with a par-birdie-par string from the 15th to rule the first-ever staging of the women's tournament and her second national title, after the stroke play of the 2004 Philippine Ladies' Open.

"It would have been better if I won the title but I'm happy with second place," Piccio, a student of St. John's Institute, told the DAILY STAR. "We're proud of her. It's quite a feat that she won against members of the national team," Piccio's parents, Ernesto and Gina, said.

Bondad, herself, lauded the younger Piccio for her performance.

"I just told myself that I was not ready to lose today," Bondad said. "I played against a truly promising player with a lot of talent. It was my toughest match of the tournament."

One up after 14 holes, Piccio bogeyed the 15th after missing the green and Bondad capitalized to level the match. The Fil-Australian took the lead for good by hitting a 3-iron to within eight feet for birdie on the 160-yard par-3 16th.

"This is a confidence-building win," the 17-year-old Bondad, who was born to Filipino parents in the United States and raised in Australia. She barged into the finals with an easy 3-and-2 win over Lora Roberto, who booted out Anya Tanpinco Wednesday.

Bondad is leaving for HongKong on Monday to join the HongKong Amateurs with some members of the RP Team, including Tanpinco. The tournament is part of the national team's preparations for the 2005 Southeast Asian Games.

Anya's older brother, JR had ensured that a Negrense would be in the finals when he defeated Ferdinand Aunzo, 5-and-4, to set up a semis encounter with Pagunsan, a 5-and-4 winner over defending champ Jun Bernis.

Tanpinco battled the RP standout on equal terms, falling to a 1-down hole on the seventh when Pagunsan hit a lovely 9-iron to within a pin of the hole.

Both found trouble on the tree-lined roughs on the 15th but Pagunsan hit a sweeping hook to reach the front of the green, while Tanpinco needed two more strokes to reach the putting surface and go 2-down.

Chandhran booted out National Caddies' Open bet Mario Labajo, 4-and-3, earlier, paving the way for an interesting sidelight since Malaysia and the Philippines are expected to crowd each other for the SEAG gold later this year.

It is going to be extra special since I would be going up against a foreigner, Pagunsan, who is hoping to win this tournament for the first time after seven tries.

"Fatigue will be a factor but I will definitely do my best. This would complete my grandslam," he said. Pagunsan, the defending SEA Games champion, has won the DHL Amateur Open and topped the low-amateur division of the RP Open.

His best finish in the RP Amateur was second to Angelo Que four years ago in Alabang.

The Men's finals will be played over 36 holes, like the battle for third place pitting Tanpinco and Labajo. *CPT

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