Ababa fires 71, ties Uy on top

TARLAC, Philippines — Sarah Ababa ran off a wave of backside pars after a birdie-birdie finish at the front, coming through with a 71 and forcing a tie with Daniella Uy after two rounds of the ICTSI Luisita Championship at the Luisita Golf and Country Club here yesterday.

Ababa pounced on Uy’s slide at the finish marred by shaky putting that saw the latter blow a two-stroke lead with bogeys on Nos. 16 and 17 for a 75.

Ababa and Uy stood on top at 146 heading to the final round of the 54-hole championship organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

But Korean Kim Seoyun struck back with a 70 after a 77 for a 147, setting the stage for a three-player shootout in the P750,000 event serving as the fourth leg of this year’s Ladies Philippine Golf Tour.

Harmie Constantino, who shared the first-round lead with Uy, failed to recover from a frontside 40 and finished with a 39 for a 79 that dropped her to joint fourth with Florence Bisera, who carded a 74 for 150, four strokes behind the joint leaders.

“I hit more fairways and greaens today, and I was able to read the line of some of my putts,” said Ababa. “Mahirap ang greens, kailangan mailagay mo sa side kung saan pwede kang maka-recover.”