Avaricio wins crown from 8 strokes down

BACOLOD , Philippines — Chanelle Avaricio pulled off one of the most stirring comebacks in the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour history, rallying from eight strokes down and edging Sarah Ababa by one to snatch the ICTSI Negros Occidental Golf Classic crown at the Marapara course here yesterday.

With Ababa too far ahead of the field after 36 holes, Avaricio focused on fighting for runner-up honors against a horde of contenders. But she found herself back right in the title hunt with a two-under card after 10 holes in third-to-last flight. 

She bogeyed two of the next seven holes but banged in a clutch par-putt from 12 feet on the 18th to salvage an even-par 70 for a 221 worth P105,000.

Back in the final group, Ababa hung on to the lead despite a frontside 40 marred by a double bogey on No. 4. But the two-day leader failed to check her skid and bogeyed four of the last five holes.

She skied to a 79 and wound up second at 222 for P75,250.

“I didn’t expect it. It (Ababa’s 8-shot lead) was pretty big, so my mindset was just to play well, play my best. Since I didn’t see the scores, I was just trying to go for second place,” said Avaricio.

Rianne Malixi took amateur honors with a second straight 73 as she tied Mariano, who carded a 75, at third at 224.

Daniella Uy wavered with a 75 for fifth at 225, followed by Chihiro Ikeda, who pooled a 227 after a 76, and Harmie Constantino with a 230 after a 78.