CAVINTI, Laguna — Sarah Ababa came up clutch when it mattered most.
With the round slipping away, Ababa drained a pressure-packed birdie putt on the 18th to salvage a two-under 70 and reclaim a share of the lead heading into the final round of the P1-million ICTSI Caliraya Springs Championship on Wednesday.
That final-hole birdie capped a rollercoaster day for the former Iloilo leg winner, who mixed solid iron play with a few costly mistakes. But with back-to-back 70s at the Arnold Palmer-designed Caliraya Springs course, she’s now right where she wants to be — back in contention at the top of the leaderboard at 140.
Joining her are two familiar names: Chihiro Ikeda and Princess Superal.
Ikeda, a former Order of Merit champion, turned in one of the day’s most dramatic rounds. After opening with a double bogey on No. 2, she caught fire with six birdies over a 10-hole stretch — including back-to-backs on 10 and 11 — and briefly seized the solo lead with another birdie on 16. A late bogey on 17 brought her back down to a four-under 68, but it was enough to tie for the lead.
Superal, meanwhile, quietly worked her way into the mix with a composed 69. She shook off a lone bogey on 13 with four birdies, including a key one on 15, and closed with steady pars on the final two holes — where she had stumbled the previous day.
With Ababa, Ikeda, and Superal tied at 140, Thursday’s final round is shaping up to be a showdown between three of the local tour’s most seasoned and respected players — all of whom have shared fairways and fought for titles together over the years.
But don’t count out the chasing pack.
Defending champion Harmie Constantino fired a 69 to pull within two strokes at 142, tied with Florence Bisera who notched a second straight 71. Martina Miñoza was also in the mix at 143 after a promising start fizzled with a double bogey on 17.
Overnight leader Kim Seo Yun, who dazzled with an opening 69, couldn’t sustain her form and slid down the board with a 75, dropping to solo seventh at 144.
Others still within striking distance include Tiffany Lee (71–145), Gretchen Villacencio (71–146), and Mafy Singson (71–146). Singson, a playoff winner at Eagle Ridge, got off to a fast start with three birdies in her first six holes but faltered coming home, finishing with four bogeys and two more birdies.