CAVINTI, Laguna – Sarah Ababa salvaged a vital birdie on the 18th to cap a tumultuous spherical of 70 and regain a share of the lead alongside a resurgent Chihiro Ikeda and a gradual Princess Superal, organising an exhilarating finale within the P1-million ICTSI Caliraya Springs Championship right here Wednesday.
Ababa, who opened with a 70 at Caliraya Springs’ Arnold Palmer-designed structure, endured a rollercoaster second spherical marked by excellent iron play and marred by some pricey errors however closed robust with a clutch nine-footer for birdie to card a second straight two-under card and keep on the helm at 140.
Ikeda, in the meantime, turned again the clock with a classic efficiency.
After stumbling out of the gates with a double bogey on the par-4 second gap, the previous Order of Advantage winner mounted a spectacular rally, reeling off six birdies in a 10-hole stretch, together with a pair on Nos. 10 and 11, to grab the solo lead.
She added one other on the sixteenth to go five-under for the spherical however faltered late, bogeying the seventeenth to accept a 68 and a share of the highest spot.
Superal additionally stayed firmly within the combine with a composed 69, negating a lone mishap on No. 13 with 4 birdies, together with a key conversion on the fifteenth. Her improved placing made the distinction, as she parred the final two holes — the place she faltered within the first spherical — to finish a 34-35 card and maintain tempo along with her longtime associates and rivals.
With all three tied at 140 heading into the ultimate spherical, the stage is about for a frenetic battle amongst veterans who’ve lengthy figured within the native circuit’s largest moments.
“I’m proud of my iron pictures. I hit 17 greens as we speak,” stated Ababa, who additionally led after the primary spherical and is eyeing one other Girls Philippine Golf Tour victory following her triumph in Iloilo final 12 months. “I had a couple of three-putts however that birdie on the 18th gave me a lift. There’s no strain going into tomorrow, particularly since I’ll be taking part in with associates. I’ll simply benefit from the sport.”
Ikeda echoed an identical mindset after her stirring comeback.
“I simply reminded myself there have been nonetheless quite a lot of holes to play,” stated the previous multiple-leg winner, who missed an opportunity to seal the Lakewood Championship final 12 months. “My irons had been sharper as we speak and the putts stored falling.”
Now, Ikeda will get one other shot at redemption, this time in a three-way battle with two of the tour’s most adorned gamers.
However whereas Ababa and Ikeda lit up the scorecards with stretches of brilliance, all eyes might effectively be on Superal, the previous Asia Pacific champion whose consistency could show decisive on a course identified for its risk-reward structure.
“I simply want to stay to my course of and provides my 100% tomorrow,” stated Superal, now a step away from ending an extended title drought.
The ultimate spherical guarantees fireworks, with not solely satisfaction but in addition the highest P125,000 purse at stake. Anticipate no letup from the chasing pack both, together with defending champion Harmie Constantino, who carded a 69 to tie Florence Bisera, who shot a second 71, at 142, simply two pictures off the lead.
Martina Miñoza briefly threatened at two-under by way of 12 holes however a pricey double bogey on the seventeenth pressured her to accept a 72 and a 143 mixture. She remained in placing distance, simply three strokes again.
First spherical chief Kim Website positioning Yun, in the meantime, struggled underneath strain, limping house with a 75 and slipping to seventh at 144. Tiffany Lee rebounded with a 71 for a 145, whereas Gretchen Villacencio and Mafy Singson, who each turned in second-round 71s, stayed within the hunt at 146.
Singson, a playoff winner at Eagle Ridge, began scorching with three birdies within the first six holes however unraveled down the stretch with 4 bogeys towards two extra birdies, lacking key possibilities that might’ve pushed her into the title image.
With Ababa’s resilience, Ikeda’s resurgence, and Superal’s quiet dedication all converging within the highlight, Thursday’s showdown guarantees to be one of the crucial riveting in latest reminiscence on the Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc.-organized circuit.