Avaricio faces hungry field in unpredictable LPGT clash

DAVAO CITY – Playing on a different course setup and against a motivated field, the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour cast gears up for what could be a dramatic, unpredictable finish in the ICTSI South Pacific Golf Classic, which gets going today (Tuesday, Oct. 29) at the South Pacific Golf and Leisure Estate here.

Fresh from a dominant wire-to-wire victory at Apo Golf last week, Chanelle Avaricio enters the PHP 1 million championship as the clear favorite — yet also with a target on her back. The Forest Hills leg champion is gunning not only for back-to-back titles but also for a third victory in a season nearing its close.

“I’m just gonna take a break and restart,” said Avaricio, who cruised to a seven-stroke triumph over Mafy Singson at Apo despite enduring sweltering heat throughout the week. “Hopefully, I’ll have another good week.”

While Avaricio’s confidence remains high, she acknowledges that South Pacific presents a completely different test — one that could turn even a sure lead into a slippery slope. The course, known for its strategic layout, undulating greens, and punishing roughs, demands precision and patience rather than pure power.

Unlike the tight and tree-lined fairways of Apo, South Pacific offers wider driving corridors, inviting players to attack. But the generosity ends there. Subtle elevation changes, crosswinds, and tricky putting surfaces are expected to separate the bold from the reckless.

“The greens at South Pacific are quite tricky,” said Singson. “Some might be more familiar with the surface and layout, but anything can really happen here.”

Indeed, “anything” might be the keyword this week. With the season heading toward its overseas finale in Taiwan next month, every shot, bounce, and missed putt could tilt the leaderboard in unexpected ways.

Hot on Avaricio’s trail is Singson, the Eagle Ridge playoff champion, who finished runner-up at Apo after rebounding with a closing 68. She hopes to carry that momentum into this week’s championship.

“Although South Pacific is very different from Apo, I’m hoping to build on my final round,” she said. “Another win would be great, but we’re all competing for the same goal.”

Also expected to make their presence felt are Princess Superal and Sarah Ababa, both playoff winners this season, and Florence Bisera, who will look to capitalize on local knowledge to regain her early-season spark.

Bisera, who previously ruled Negros Occidental and scored a breakthrough victory in Thailand, believes South Pacific’s familiar terrain could be her best chance yet to return to the winner’s circle.

Meanwhile, Harmie Constantino, last year’s four-leg champion, is desperate to rediscover her winning form, while Daniella Uy hopes to bounce back from a stretch of so-so results following her international stints in Taiwan and Thailand.

Also tipped to contend are Tiffany Lee, Marvin Monsalve, Pamela Mariano, and Kayla Nocum, along with promising amateurs Krista Miñoza and Jules Gaerlan, and junior standout Johanna Uyking, all eager to spring a surprise.

With so much talent and so many storylines converging on a course that punishes impatience and rewards creativity, the event could easily turn into a three-day thriller where leads vanish and underdogs rise.

From Avaricio’s quest for dominance to Singson’s quiet confidence, from Bisera’s bid for redemption to Superal’s steady threat — the stage is set for a battle of power, strategy, and composure.