Ababa faces tough road to title repeat

DAVAO CITY — From snatching a dramatic win in Bukidnon to returning to her home course, all signs suggest another strong showing from Sarah Ababa in the ICTSI Apo Golf Classic that unfolds on Tuesday here.

But it won't be easy.

With a star-studded cast led by the return of multi-titled Princess Superal, Ababa's bid for back-to-back victories will be put to a tough test. The P1-million championship has drawn a compact yet talent-laden field, brimming with subplots that could lead to another heart-stopping playoff finish.

Fresh off a thrilling rally at Del Monte where she clawed back from five strokes down and edged Chanelle Avaricio in a nerve-wracking second playoff hole, Ababa enters the Apo event with renewed confidence.

The local course, where she learned the game and nurtured her skills, offers a familiar setting that could boost her quest for a fifth Ladies Philippine Golf Tour crown.

Yet despite her recent triumph, Ababa remains cautiously optimistic.

“It’s hard to win again. I’ll just enjoy and play my game,” said the Davaoeña hotshot, aware of the stiffer challenge ahead.

“I’m sure they will make it harder for me to win again.”

Indeed, the field is as tough as ever.

Superal, who denied Ababa in their playoff showdown at Caliraya Springs last August, is back to reassert her dominance. The multi-time LPGT champion brings not only experience but also a killer instinct in closing out tight finishes — adding another layer of tension and excitement to the 54-hole event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc.

Should both Superal and Ababa find themselves in contention come the final round, fans could be in for another explosive playoff finish, mirroring their past head-to-head clashes.

Also primed for redemption is Chanelle Avaricio, who faltered late at Del Monte after leading for most of the tournament. She’s hungry to avenge that heartbreak and regain her footing on the winner’s podium.

One homegrown talent worth keeping an eye on is Florence Bisera, who is eager to redeem herself after a disappointing 10th-place finish at Del Monte, while riding the momentum of back-to-back victories in Negros Occidental and Thailand.

Meanwhile, Martina Miñoza, coming off a strong third-place finish last week, is eyeing her breakthrough victory, while Harmie Constantino looks to halt a string of underwhelming results as the season winds down. The 2024 Order of Merit winner knows time is running out to recapture the form that earned her four titles last year.

Korean ace Tiffany Lee, who broke into the scene with a win at Splendido Taal in 2023, also looms as a threat. Add to that the youthful firepower of Velinda Castil, Kayla Nocum, Annika Cedo, and local hopefuls Mafy Singson and Chihiro Ikeda — all determined to pull off upsets against the tour’s heavyweights — and the stage is set for a thrilling showdown.

But if there’s one homegrown talent worth watching and anticipating, it is Florence Bisera, who is out to redeem herself from a woeful 10th place finish at Del Monte, while coming off back-to-back victories in Negros Occidental and in Thailand.