CHANELLE AVARICIO transformed disappointment into dominance at the International Container Terminal Services Inc. Apo Golf Classic with a commanding seven-stroke victory over Mafy Singson in Davao.
That despite carding a 73 in the final round on Thursday.
‘It feels great,’ said Avaricio, visibly exhaling a sigh of relief after bouncing back from a confidence-testing setback just a week ago at Del Monte. ‘Last week, I really fought but came up short. But I’m happy that I did well enough to win this one.’
Avaricio finished with a three-under 213 and pocketed the top purse of P117,000 to erase the stigma of that crushing defeat at Del Monte where she faltered down the stretch and lost to Sarah Ababa in sudden death.
‘This win means a lot, the same as all my other wins in the past. It feels great,’ she said, smiling as she reflected on her consistent drive to improve.
With an opening-round 72 that gave her a narrow one-shot edge over Singson, Avaricio shifted into high gear in Round 2 with a clinical 68 to widen her lead to eight strokes over Princess Superal.
Singson, who stumbled with a second-round 79 that left her 10 strokes behind, mounted an early charge in the final round with two birdies in the first three holes to pose a strong threat, but this time, Avaricio held sway.
Avaricio extended her lead with a birdie on the sixth but faltered with bogeys on Nos. 9, 11 and 12, while Singson failed to capitalize on her hot start and settled for 12 straight pars before rediscovering her touch with birdies on Nos. 16 and 18 to card a solid 68.
Singson’s late surge earned her a runner-up finish at 220, worth P82,000.
Superal also struggled with bogeys at Nos. 3 and 4 before trading two birdies with two more bogeys the rest of the way for a 74-she finished third at 222 and took home P65,000.
Florence Bisera and Daniella Uy matched 74s to share fourth place at 223, Harmie Constantino turned in a second straight 72 to tie for sixth with Marvi Monsalve, who shot a 74, at 225, and Pamela Mariano faltered with a 76 and wound up eighth at 226.
Martina Miñoza put in a 74 for ninth at 227, while Ababa-last year’s champion and fresh off a come-from-behind victory at Del Monte-struggled with a 76 to finish a disappointing 10th at 228 in the P1 million championship organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc.