ICTSI Caliraya tees off today

CAVINTI, Laguna, Philippines — Chanelle Avaricio returns to the site of one of her three Ladies Philippine Golf Tour victories last year as she seeks a repeat in the ICTSI Caliraya Springs Championship firing off today.

Pauline del Rosario is also in hot pursuit of the title in probably her first and only LPGT stint this year while on a break from the LPGA’s farm league, along with Chihiro Ikeda, Harmie Constantino and Daniella Uy, who are all eager to rebound from their unsuccessful campaigns in Bacolod and Iloilo ruled by Avaricio and top amateur Rianne Malixi, respectively.

But while Malixi is skipping this week’s event to focus on her campaign in a top Japan junior tournament next week, Avaricio is setting out for another shot at an LPGT trophy following her one-stroke victory over Ikeda in Caliraya Springs’ LPGT event last year.

In men’s play, Angelo Que and Lloyd Go are coming in fresh from Vietnam to reinforce an already-formidable roster in the P2.5 million event.

Que is hungry for victory after coming up short at Eagle Ridge, Riviera and Pradera Verde last year, while Go mounts his own battle in pursuit of a career breakthrough in the PGT.

Bacolod and Iloilo leg winners Ira Alido and Rupert Zaragosa, defending champion Zanieboy Gialon, Guido Van der Valk and Tony Lascuña are also in the field.