Pauline del Rosario, Harmie Constantino and Florence Bisera are locked in a tight battle for the title going to the final 18 holes of the ICTSI Ladies Villamor Philippine Masters after contrasting rounds at Villamor Air Base Golf Club on Thursday.
The trio finished 36 holes on three-over 147.
Del Rosario, trailing for much of the round, managed to limit her mistakes to just one bogey in the last four holes, finishing with a 37-36 round for a 73.
READ Monsalve hangs on to one-shot lead at Villamor despite late slip
Constantino faltered down the stretch with bogeys on No. 15 and a double bogey on the next hole to card a 74.
Bisera, on the other hand, bogeyed the last hole for a 77.
“I haven't hit many fairways since the first round. My game hasn’t been at its best this week, which is why I struggled a lot,” Constantino admitted after opening her title-retention bid with a 73 on Wednesday.
Constantino worked her way to the top with an impressive one-under card on the front nine. Despite a bogey on No. 10 and a birdie on the 12th, she struggled to maintain her lead, faltering towards the end.
“Other than my driving struggles, everything was fine. My irons were great. I think I just need to hit better shots tomorrow (Friday) and pick my lines,” said Constantino, the back-to-back winner at Palos Verdes and Caliraya Springs.
However, she quickly downplayed her chances for a third straight win, adding: “I have no expectations for tomorrow, I’ll just enjoy playing.”
Despite taking the first-round lead and barely retaining it, Bisera acknowledged her struggle with the challenging Villamor course.
“Mahirap talaga ang course na ‘to. Di ako nakaka-score ng maayos ever since I played this course (This course is really difficult. I haven’t been able to score well ever since I started playing here),” she said.
Her difficulty became evident after a start of four pars as she ran into trouble on No. 5. “Nadikit sa puno, sa may ugat ang drive ko, walang palo. Kaya bumalik lang ang bola, leading to a double bogey (My drive got stuck by a tree, near its roots and I couldn’t make a swing. So the ball just came back, leading to a double-bogey).”
This misstep highlighted the unpredictable nature of the course and Bisera’s determination to overcome it.
Her ability to par the last three holes in challenging conditions and pressure underscored the caliber of the player who dominated her rookie season with multiple victories, leading to an Order of Merit title.
Thrilling finish
A thrilling finish could be in the works as Seoyun Kim stayed just a stroke behind at 148 despite a 77, while Mikha Fortuna pooled a 149 after a 75, ensuring a spirited battle for top honors in the 54-hole championship organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. and supported by Kampfortis Golf.
Apo leg winner Sarah Ababa shot a 76 for a 151, Chihiro Ikeda and Gretchen Villacencio matched 152s after a 77 and 78, respectively, while Apple Fudolin and Lois Kaye Go took the next two spots at 155 and 157 after 79 and 75, respectively.
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