Top guns feel challenge of Lee’s pro debut

LAUREL, Batangas, Philippines — Amid all the attention on Jiwon Lee’s pro debut, seasoned campaigner Harmie Constantino guns for her fourth leg win at the ICTSI Splendido Taal Championship, which begins today here.

Constantino is on a roll as she scored a victory at Palos Verdes, made a surprising comeback to defeat Princess Superal and Pauline del Rosario for the Caliraya crown, and outlasted Gretchen Villacencio in the second playoff hole to secure her second straight Philippine Masters title.

Despite her achievements, Constantino and her fellow professionals, including Chihiro Ikeda, Florence Bisera, Marvi Monsalve, and Villacencio, seem to be overshadowed by Lee’s exceptional performance at the Lakewood Championship in Cabanatuan City last month.

The Korean junior golfer secured a remarkable win over Ikeda on the second extra hole, a feat that showcased her potential and prompted her transition to the professional ranks.

In the P2 million men’s side, Apo leg champion Jhonnel Ababa faces off with Caliraya Springs stage winner Clyde Mondilla and former Q-School topnotcher Hyun Ho Rho at 7:10 a.m. on No. 1, while Lloyd Go, who scored a breakthrough at Palos Verdes, slugs it out with recent TCC Invitational winner and four-time Order of Merit titlist Tony Lascuña and Rupert Zaragosa in the next flight at 7:20 a.m.