Arevalo shades Lichty, cops Lakewood crown

MANILA, Philippines - Abby Arevalo bucked a double-bogey mishap on No. 17 with a clutch par-putt from six feet on the closing hole as she edged Emily Lichty of the US in the countback to capture the Lakewood Summer Championship crown at the Lakewood Golf Club in California over the weekend.

Arevalo salvaged a 73 over the long par-74 layout, finishing with a gutsy par then watching Lichty fumble with a closing bogey for a similar one-under card to snare the victory in the 18-hole tournament.

Arevalo fought back from one shot down at the turn with three straight birdies from No. 11 to negate the long-hitting Lichty’s eagle on the par-5 13th. Both players birdied No. 15 and the top ICTSI-The Country Club bet took control as Lichty stumbled with a bogey on the next.

But just when Arevalo thought she had the title in the bag, she hit an errant shot on the par-3 17th, pitched poorly and ended up with a double to trail her American rival by one going to the par-5 18th.

Teammate Sofia Chabon, who also won in the Ping championship last month, ended up third with a 74 while Sam Martirez hobbled with a 78 for fourth in the premier 14-18 age division.

The come-from-behind win was Arevalo’s follow-up to her emphatic six-shot romp over Chinese Yu Cen Han in the FCG World Championship in Temecula two weeks ago as Team ICTSI-TCC sustained its run following Pauline del Rosario’s domination of the Women’s Transnational in Yakima, Washington last week where she racked up three victories.

Bernice Olivarez-Ilas, meanwhile, wavered with two bogeys in the last four holes and missed her crack for the 12-14 crown, finishing with a 78 and ending up third, just one stroke off American Page Harrison, who shot a 77 and nipped compatriot Briana Park in the countback.