How sweet it is

BUKIDNON — In one of the most gripping finales of the season, Sarah Ababa clawed her way back from five strokes down with a fearless charge on the closing holes, then outlasted Chanelle Avaricio in a pressure-packed second playoff hole to capture the ICTSI Del Monte Championship in dramatic fashion on Thursday.

Trailing for most of the day and facing what looked like an insurmountable deficit, Ababa summoned the composure and tenacity of a seasoned warrior. She birdied three of the last five holes with clinical precision, capping a final round 70 that put her at 211 — just enough to catch a faltering Avaricio, who stumbled home with a 72 after a sizzling start.

“I didn’t expect to win — I was 2-down with two holes to go,” admitted Ababa, who trailed by as many as five shots midway through the final round after Avaricio scorched the front nine with a 33 while she managed only a 36.

“I was so nervous.”

But golf, as ever, is a cruel test of nerves.

With steely resolve and near-flawless execution, Ababa mounted a stunning comeback that forced a sudden-death playoff at five-under total.

The two players matched par on their return trip to the par-5 18th. But on the second playoff hole, Ababa delivered under pressure — unleashing a crisp drive and second shot then following it up with a precise approach from 75 yards to set up a winning birdie. Avaricio, clearly rattled, couldn’t respond.

“It was the perfect yardage for me — 75 yards. I’m really confident from inside 100 yards,” said Ababa, who pocketed the P125,000 top purse for her fourth career title in a 12-year pro journey.

The victory was especially sweet for the Davaoeña veteran, who lost in similar sudden-death fashion to Princess Superal at the Caliraya Springs Championship last August.

But this one, she said, meant the most.

“This win is super special because it’s something I didn’t expect. Chanelle was already way ahead,” said Ababa, who also drew inspiration from her parents, who came all the way from Davao to support her. She was especially motivated by her father, former pro golfer Edgar, who served as her caddie for all three days.

The win couldn’t have come at a better time, serving as a major confidence booster as the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour heads to her hometown of Davao for the next two legs at Apo Golf and South Pacific.

For Avaricio, the loss was a bitter pill after a dominant opening. The former Alabama State standout seemed poised to run away with the title after carding a scorching 33 on the front nine, building a sizeable cushion with poise and command.

Avaricio, who settled for P82,000, unraveled under the mounting pressure of the back nine, bogeying Nos. 10, 11 and 12 in rapid succession. Though she momentarily steadied with a birdie on No. 15, a bogey on the 17th left her clinging to a one-shot lead entering the final hole.

She had one last chance to close it out but failed to convert on the reachable par-5 18th while Ababa calmly rolled in a six-foot birdie to force extra holes — and ultimately snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

The loss marked a stinging reversal for Avaricio, who had dominated at Forest Hills earlier in the season. But on this day, with the trophy in sight, it was Ababa who had the mettle to finish the job.

Meanwhile, Martina Miñoza closed strong with three birdies over the last six holes, carding a 68 to secure a career-best third-place finish at 212 worth P66,000.