Ababa pulls ahead as LPGT South Pacific battle heats up

DAVAO CITY – Humbled in her title-retention drive at home just a week ago, Sarah Ababa now stands on the brink of redemption – and another triumph – barely three kilometers away from where disappointment last struck.

The homegrown ace scrambled for a one-under 71 to surge past erstwhile leader Chanelle Avaricio and a charging Florence Bisera in Wednesday’s penultimate round of the ICTSI South Pacific Golf Classic, moving just 18 holes away from claiming a second Ladies Philippine Golf Tour crown in three weeks.

Counting her opening 69, Ababa assembled a four-under 140, a score that lifted her to solo control in the PHP 1 million championship.

Still, the Davaoeña rued her shaky putting down the stretch that prevented her from securing a more comfortable cushion heading into Thursday’s final round.

“Sayang, three-putts ‘yung dalawang bogey ko,” said Ababa, referring to her miscues on Nos. 14 and 16.

Ababa had seized a three-stroke lead after a brilliant, bogey-free 13-hole run highlighted by three birdies.

But she faltered on the greens late, three-putting from the fringe on the 14th and again misfiring on the 16th.

Despite the late stumbles, her 35-36 card proved enough to wrest the lead and put her in prime position for a follow-up to her dramatic playoff victory over Avaricio at Del Monte two weeks ago.

But she floundered at Apo Golf, where she finished 10th in her bid to defend her 2023 title.

Avaricio, coming off a dominant run at Apo, couldn’t sustain her fiery 68 start.

After a three-birdie, three-bogey frontside, she traded a bogey on the 14th with a birdie on the next to stay level with Ababa at four-under.

But a poor third shot from a divot on the par-5 18th and a missed short putt led to a closing bogey, dropping her to a 73 and a share of second with Bisera at 141.

Bisera, three shots adrift after 18 holes, recovered from a bogey on the first hole with a run of four birdies in nine holes from No. 6 to momentarily tie Ababa.

But a miscue on No. 15 sent her back to a two-under 70, keeping her just one behind in what has become a tight, unpredictable race.

And the chase pack is swelling.

Tiffany Lee fired a tournament-best 67, ignited by five straight birdies from No. 7, to jump into a tie for fourth at 142 with two of the LPGT’s top names – Princess Superal and Daniella Uy.

Superal, just one off the lead on Tuesday, carded a 73, while Uy started hot with three birdies on the front but missed several makeable chances on the inward nine to settle for a 69.

Further down, Marvi Monsalve stayed within striking distance after a 71 for 145, while Harmie Constantino (72), Mafy Singson (73), and Chihiro Ikeda (75) rounded out the next three spots at 146, 147, and 148, respectively.

Ababa said she plans to stick to her simple, no-risk approach in the final round – one that’s centered on precision and patience.

“Same strategy – fairways at greens – pero sana mas maganda ang putting since mahirap basahin ang greens,” she said.

She also draws comfort and calm from having her father, Edgar, back on her bag.

“Nakakalma talaga pag siya ang caddie ko,” Ababa said, noting that their partnership has already produced three victories.

For Avaricio, the round was a test of rhythm and resilience.

“Medyo off ang second shots ko. I was hitting the greens in regulation pero malalayo at mahirap mag-putt,” she said, also citing the soggy course conditions.

“It’s a factor – it feels heavier to hit on wet grounds.”

But despite the struggles, Avaricio remains confident she can pull off back-to-back titles and a third win of the season, following her runaway triumph at Forest Hills last June.

“I’ll just focus on my game and on every shot,” she said.

With just five shots separating the top seven players – and the course expected to play even trickier under soft conditions – the stage is set for another wild, wide-open finish reminiscent of the Del Monte drama, where fortunes swung wildly on the final holes.