CAVINTI, Laguna. – Chanelle Avaricio found herself on a familiar spot despite a two-over 74 Wednesday, pouncing on Marvi Monsalve’s frontside meltdown and Chihiro Ikeda’s backside stumble to move closer to completing a back-to-back title romp on the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour.
Not even a three-bogey, one-birdie round in another challenging day at the Caliraya Springs Golf Club could stymie’s Avaricio’s charge to the top of the ICTSI Caliraya Championship at 145 after 36 holes as Monsalve shot herself in the foot with a horrible 85 on a frontside 43 after a lead-grabbing 69 Tuesday and Ikeda blew a three-under card and the lead after 11 holes with a double bogey on the 13th and a bogey on the next for a 73.
But Ikeda lay just a stroke off Avaricio at 146, which Daniella Uy matched with a gutsy 72, setting the stage for a three-way battle for top honors in the P750,000 championship.
Harmie Constantino made a 75 for fourth at 151 but stood six shots off Avaricio, who humbled Princess Superal in sudden death to snare the ICTSI Hallow Ridge crown two weeks ago.
Now, the comely former Alabama State U mainstay, who nailed her breakthrough win at Riviera-Couples last November, is 18 holes away from a third championship.
“I didn’t play as good as yesterday (Tuesday). I struggled with my second shots,” said Avaricio, who hit just one green at the back but flashed superb short game to rescue a number of pars and grab the lead.
