CHANELLE AVARICIO took up the cudgels for the embattled Ladies Philippine Golf Tour (LPGT) delegation with a gritty one-under-par 71 in Thursday’s second round of the Party Golfers Ladies Open at the wind-whipped Lily Golf and Country Club in Hsinchu.
After a 76 in cold, blustery conditions on Wednesday, Avaricio showed remarkable composure and adaptability on the hillside layout and despite the temperatures still dipping and winds swirling, Avaricio’s 36-hole haul of 147 pushed her from 37th to joint 17th-seven shots off new leader Wenny Chang, who surged ahead behind a scorching 31 on the front nine en route to a 69 and a 140 total.
Avaricio credited her improved short game for her resurgence, particularly around the greens, where she repeatedly salvaged pars and maintained rhythm despite the elements.
‘My short game was so much better, especially my around-the-green,’ she said. ‘I didn’t really think of what to score. I just wanted to focus on every shot.’
While Avaricio climbed, early contenders Florence Bisera and LK Go were unable to withstand the demanding conditions.
Bisera limped to a birdie-less 77, sliding from a share of eighth to joint 30th at 149, where she joined fellow LPGT mainstays Princess Superal and Daniella Uy-who also struggled with 74 and 75, respectively.
Go, meanwhile, endured the toughest fall of the day.
An error-filled 80 sent her tumbling 37 spots down the leaderboard into a tie for 45th at 152, the gusting winds repeatedly punishing miscues off the tee and into the greens. She barely made the cut.
Among other Filipinas, Mafy Singson carded a 74 and climbed to a share of 36th at 151 to advance, but Marvi Monsalve missed the cut by one despite rebounding with a 73 for a 153.
At the top, local bet Chang grabbed the lead, banking on her early four-birdie burst that provided enough cushion to offset a shaky 38 at the finish.
Her 69 for a 140 aggregate nudged her ahead of Ching Huang, whose 70 placed her one stroke back at 141.