Superb short game keeps Avaricio afloat

TAIWAN — Chanelle Avaricio took up the cudgels for the embattled Ladies Philippine Golf Tour delegation, delivering a gritty one-under-par 71 in Thursday’s second round of the Party Golfers Ladies Open at the wind-whipped Lily Golf and Country Club in Hsinchu.

Avaricio’s steady recovery stood out on a day when most of her compatriots continued to be buffeted — literally and figuratively — by the tournament’s cold, blustery conditions for the second straight day.

After an unsteady 76 Wednesday, Avaricio showed remarkable composure and adaptability on the hillside layout. With temperatures dipping and winds swirling, she quickly recalibrated her game, firing two birdies in her first three holes. She made up for a slip on the eighth with a bounce-back birdie on the ninth, showcasing both precision and mental resolve.

The back nine, however, demanded even more discipline. A bogey on No. 10 halted her early momentum, but the Filipina ace dug in and parred her way home — an exercise in patience and shot-making as gusts stiffened and greens quickened.

Her 36-hole haul of 147 was good enough to vault her from a share of 37th all the way to joint 17th, though still seven shots adrift of new leader Wenny Chang, who surged ahead behind a scorching 31 on the front nine en route to a 69 and a 140 total.

Avaricio credited her improved short game for her resurgence, particularly around the greens, where she repeatedly salvaged pars and maintained rhythm despite the elements.

“My short game was so much better, especially my around-the-green,” she said. “I didn’t really think of what to score. I just wanted to focus on every shot.”

Still hopeful of crafting a strong, respectable finish in the final round of the 54-hole event co-sanctioned by the Taiwan LPGA and LPGT, Avaricio pointed to the need for steadier driving and sharper iron play.

“I’ll try to hit my tee shots in the right spots and hit more greens in regulation,” she added.

While Avaricio climbed, early contenders Florence Bisera and LK Go were unable to withstand the demanding conditions. Bisera limped to a birdie-less 77, sliding from a share of eighth to joint 30th at 149, where she joined fellow LPGT mainstays Princess Superal and Daniella Uy — who also struggled with 74 and 75, respectively.

Go, meanwhile, endured the toughest fall of the day. An error-filled 80 sent her tumbling 37 spots down the leaderboard into a tie for 45th at 152, the gusting winds repeatedly punishing miscues off the tee and into the greens. She barely made the cut.

Among other Filipinas, Mafy Singson carded a 74 and climbed to a share of 36th at 151 to advance, but Marvi Monsalve missed the cut by one despite rebounding with a 73 for a 153.

At the top, local bet Chang grabbed the lead, banking on her early four-birdie burst that provided enough cushion to offset a shaky 38 at the finish. Her 69 for a 140 aggregate nudged her ahead of Ching Huang, whose 70 placed her one stroke back at 141.