CHANELLE AVARICIO turned a shaky start into a brilliant second-round charge, firing a bogey-free 69 Wednesday to seize a one-stroke lead over Apple Fudolin in the ICTSI Summit Point Championship and set up a thrilling final-round scramble at the Summit Point Golf and Country Club.
Avaricio, who opened with a 75 on Tuesday, stayed patient through the first 11 holes before a birdie on No. 12 ignited a late surge. She followed with another birdie on the 13th and birdied the par-five No. 16 for the second straight day, closing with a 36-33 and a two-day total of 144.
‘I hit more greens in regulation today compared to yesterday, so it was easier to make par today,’ said Avaricio, who credited her improved iron play and putting for the turnaround.
Her late burst proved decisive as overnight co-leaders Sarah Ababa and Tiffany Lee faltered down the stretch, allowing Avaricio to move alone on top after 36 holes.
Ababa, who held a two-shot lead after a 71 in the opening round, suffered a costly double bogey on the 18th and settled for a 75. Lee, meanwhile, forced a three-way tie at the top with Avaricio and Ababa after playing the first 15 holes at one under for the day, only to bogey Nos. 16 and 17 and finish with a second straight 73.
Both dropped to joint third at 146 with Seoyun Kim, who fought back with a 71.
Fudolin emerged as Avaricio’s closest challenger after a gritty 71 put her at 143, just one stroke behind. Long in search of a breakthrough, Fudolin made an aggressive start, birdieing two of her first three holes, then steadied herself after a bogey-bogey skid from No. 9 with a birdie on No. 13 to salvage a 35-36.
For the first time, Fudolin finds herself within striking distance of an elusive title.
Yvon Bisera, meanwhile, matched par 72 for a 147 and in a tie with Gretchen Villacencio, who carded a 74, while Harmie Constantino, just one behind Ababa after 18 holes, also slipped with a 75 for a 148. But the deficit remains manageable in a final round where momentum can change in a matter of holes.
Avaricio, however, heads into Thursday’s finale with momentum on her side after producing the day’s best score and negotiating a demanding layout without a single bogey.
‘I didn’t really think about going bogey-free. I was really focusing on every shot,’ Avaricio said. ‘It was more like I just wanted to reach the fairway, then hit the green so I could two-putt for par. That was it-that was all I had in mind.’