Chanelle Avaricio held on to a precarious one-shot lead after an even-par 72 as Daniella Uy and Sarah Ababa closed in heading into the final round of the ICTSI Del Monte Championship here Wednesday.
Avaricio, who lit up the course with a flawless 67 Tuesday, struggled with her approach shots in Round 2 but salvaged crucial pars.
‘My driving was good but I struggled with my second shots. I also had difficulties with my putting,’ said Avaricio, after stringing together 18 pars in a gritty round that kept her on top at 139.
Uy, taking a break from the Taiwan tour, carded a 71 highlighted by two birdies and a lone bogey to stay at 140.
Unlike the top two, Ababa went on the offensive, firing four birdies against two bogeys for a 70, pulling within two shots at 141 and putting herself firmly in the title hunt in the 54-hole event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.
Kristine Fleetwood joined the chase with a 70 to move to 142, just three shots back while Mafy Singson posted the day’s best round for a 69 and a three-way tie at 143 with Harmie Constantino (72) and local hopeful Velinda Castil (73).
Meanwhile, Rupert Zaragosa surged to the top with a sizzling 64 while the other big names found their groove, setting the stage for a thrilling final two rounds of the ICTSI Del Monte Championship.
At the halfway mark of the P3.5 million sixth leg of the Philippine Golf Tour, Zaragosa took a two-shot lead at 12-under 132. He torched the course with nine birdies for nines of 32s.
Zaragosa, whose eight-under card matched the course record set by Clyde Mondilla during his 2023 title win, is wary of Reymon Jaraula, who fired a flawless 66 for solo second at 10-under 134.
Right behind is Michael Bibat, who slipped from the lead with a 71 but birdied his final hole to tie Arnold Villacencio at 136.