DAVAO CITY — Chanelle Avaricio wavered at the finish but proved as hungry as ever, fending off a pack of determined challengers to seize control of the ICTSI South Pacific Golf Classic with a four-under 68 here on Tuesday.
Two late bogeys spoiled what could have been an explosive start to another title drive for the Apo Golf Classic champion, but a dazzling six-birdie spree in the first 10 holes was enough to keep her firmly in the driver’s seat against a field eager to knock her off her perch.
“I played really well on the front nine, but I made two late bogeys, including a three-putt mistake. The greens are very hard to read,” said Avaricio, whose effort still earned her a one-stroke edge over Sarah Ababa and Princess Superal, who matched 69s.
With 36 holes still to play, Avaricio remained grounded despite her strong start.
“I don’t want to get ahead of myself,” she said.
Picking up exactly where she left off after her emphatic seven-stroke triumph at Apo last week, Avaricio once again displayed the poise and precision of a player in complete command.
With her rhythm unbroken and her confidence surging, she turned the South Pacific Golf and Leisure Estate into her personal stage, storming ahead by two over Superal after 10 holes of the P1-million championship.
From the onset, it was clear Avaricio was playing in a different gear. She birdied the opening two holes, setting the tone early, and then went on a tear with birdies on Nos. 5, 7 and 8 to close out the front nine with a scorching 31. Even as the skies dimmed and hints of rain loomed, her focus never wavered.
“I’m looking forward to playing good in the next two days,” said Avaricio, whose calm exterior masked a relentless drive underneath.
“It was about staying in the moment and taking it one shot at a time.”
The strategy worked to perfection as she picked up another birdie on the 10th. But just when it seemed she had the par-72 layout all figured out, it struck back, yielding bogeys on Nos. 15 and 16 that allowed Ababa, Superal, and several others to close in.
Avaricio’s closest pursuers also made early noise, but none could quite match her sustained intensity. Superal kept pace with four birdies on the front nine but lost momentum on the way home, settling for a three-under card after a closing bogey.
“My driving and iron game clicked compared to last week,” said Superal as she reflected on her round.
Just a stroke behind the leader, she emphasized the importance of maintaining focus.
“I want to focus on the process of my game — every shot, I have to execute it right. The greens are tough, very challenging.”
Superal could’ve forced a share of the lead, but a stumble on the finishing par-5 cost her. She came up short on her third shot, then again from a muddy lie, before missing the par putt.