Chanelle Avaricio fired a bogey-free 67 to set the pace in the International Container Terminal Services Inc. Del Monte Championship on Tuesday in Bukidnon.
Playing Del Monte’s tight, tree-lined fairways for the first time, Avaricio started conservatively with seven pars.
Finding her groove with driver and putter, Avaricio hit three straight birdies from No. 8, then added two more on Nos. 15 and 16 to finish at five-under in the P1 million championship.
The former Order of Merit winner holds a two-shot lead over defending champion Daniella Uy after 18 holes.
‘I didn’t expect to have no bogeys today because it’s my first time here and the course is pretty tight,’ said Avaricio, who has been fine-tuning her swing and putting after a rocky return to the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour.
Winner at Forest Hills, Avaricio is looking to get another win after finishing sixth at Negros Occidental. She skipped the Caliraya Springs and Bacolod legs.
‘I can maintain this momentum,’ she added. ‘I’ll just try to keep the ball in play and keep giving myself birdie chances.’
Uy shot a 69, lamenting a bogey on the 17th that kept her from closing the gap. After a quiet front nine with one birdie and one bogey, she surged with four birdies on the back nine before faltering late.
‘I was just trying to survive today and focus on the process,’ said Uy, whose gritty round showed flashes of the form that won her this title two years ago. ‘I hit a lot of fairways and greens, and luckily my putting worked today.’
Uy, who also finished seventh at Marapara, knows how quickly the leaderboard can shift.
‘I just want to stay locked in on each shot-hit greens, read putts well, and take what the course gives me,’ she said.
Meanwhile, young pro Velinda Castil quietly reminded everyone why she’s one of the country’s rising stars.
The 17-year-old Bukidnon native, who turned pro at 15 after a runner-up finish here two years ago, posted a solid 70 with three birdies and one bogey.
‘I just played my game, no expectations,’ said Castil. ‘There’s pressure because I’m here in my hometown and a lot of people -expect me to play well.’
At one-under 71 were veterans Sarah Ababa, Tiffany Lee, and Harmie Constantino.
Local hopeful Martina Miñoza showed early promise with back-to-back birdies from No. 10 but settled for a 72, tying Kristine Fleetwood and Lesley Icoy for seventh. Pre-tournament favorite Florence Bisera, fresh off wins at Marapara and Thailand, struggled to a 73 alongside Marvi Monsalve.
Mafy Singson, who beat Bisera in a playoff to win at Eagle Ridge, also had a rough day, shooting 74 to fall six shots back. She’ll need a strong comeback to stay in the hunt.