SILANG, Cavite. – Harmie Constantino proved a lot better than the rest in exacting conditions at the Langer course, taming the challenging par-71 layout with a 70 to take a three-stroke lead over Chihiro Ikeda after round one of the ICTSI Riviera Ladies Championship here Wednesday.
Constantino showed grit and poise in tackling the hazard-laden layout and upstaging the other bidders, seizing control with a birdie on the first hole and staying in command despite a two-bogey, one-birdie game in the next 13 holes. She birdied the par-5 16th to spike a pair of 35s and gain a big opening round cushion in the 54-hole championship held under bubble setup and strict health and safety measures.
“I played pretty steady although I missed a couple of short putts,” said Constantino, seeking a third victory in her rookie pro season after sweeping the Eagle Ridge-Aoki legs last March and five weeks ago.
She actually missed making it last week after squandering a second-round lead and ending up tied at second with Ikeda at the adjacent Couples course. But with a fine showing coupled with her rivals’ shaky starts, the former national champion could be on her way to sustaining her dominant run in the Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.-organized circuit put up by ICTSI.
“Try to make less mistakes as much as possible,” she added when asked of her game-plan in the next two days.
Ikeda stood right behind at 73, a 38-35 round marred by a double bogey on No. 9 and two three-putt miscues against a tap-in birdie on par-5 No. 5. But the Fil-Japanese, who tied for second in the last two Ladies Philippine Golf Tour stops at Highlands and Couples, birdied the first two holes at the back to close in on Constantino, only to reel back with another missed green mishap on the 14th.
“I thought I scored higher, so a two-over card is quite okay on this course,” said Ikeda.
Daniella Uy stayed within reach despite a double bogey on the fifth hole as she birdied Nos. 8 and 14 against two more bogeys. But the former Junior World champion still in search for an LPGT breakthrough bogeyed the last hole to fall to third with a 74.
