Malixi rallies for 8th

MANILA, Philippines — Rianne Malixi came through with a big windup, birdying four of the last six holes to fire a three-under 70 and post a joint eighth-place effort in the Australian Amateur won by Japanese Mamika Shinchi at Yarra Yarra Golf Club in Victoria Friday.

Despite another shaky start that saw her slip back from joint 12th with a frontside 37, the emerging Filipina star finally found her rhythm, range and putting touch in the closing holes, gaining strokes on Nos. 13. 15, 16 and 18 for a 33 and a four-day total of 293.

She finished 11 strokes behind Shinchi, who pounced on erstwhile local leader Amelia Harris’ bogey-marred 40 at the front and won by two with a blistering seven-under 66.

Malixi came off a breakthrough win in the Australian Master of the Amateurs last week.