LIPA, Batangas. – In search of the form that launched a successful pro career last year, Harmie Constantino hopes to recall it on a course where she nailed her biggest triumph as an amateur as the ICTSI Mount Malarayat Challenge reels off Wednesday here.
Though she has posted two top four finishes in the first three legs of this year’s Ladies Philippine Golf Tour, the former national champion never had the chance to contend for the title at Hallow Ridge and Caliraya but is brimming with confidence heading to this week’s 54-hole championship at Mt. Malarayat’s composite course.
Constantino humbled an international pro field to win here by eight over a Thai rival in 2016. She would dominate the amateur ranks the next four years before joining the big league last year, marking it with victories at Eagle Ridge-Aoki twice in March and November.
But a crack at a third LPGT crown proved elusive for the 21-year-old former national champion, who settled for fourth at Midlands won by Sunshine Baraquiel after her second win, tied for second at Riviera-Couples ruled by Chanelle Avaricio and posted another joint fourth effort at Riviera-Langer topped by Daniella Uy.
She ended up second again at the close of the 2021 at Midlands where amateur Rianne Malixi upstaged the pros but that runner-up finish proved enough to seal her claim on the coveted Order of the Merit crown.
She, however, made a rather shaky start in the new season, finishing eighth at Luisita, which Malixi also won, tied for third at Hallow Ridge and shared fourth place at Caliraya, which Avaricio swept.
