Constantino, Avaricio share ICTSI Apo lead with 70s

DAVAO CITY — Harmie Constantino and Chanelle Avaricio fired contrasting two-under-par 70s on a windy Tuesday, Oct. 27, to share the opening-round lead in the ICTSI Apo Golf Classic, setting the stage for a wide-open title race.

Constantino surged into a share of the first-round lead with a birdie on the 18th, capitalizing on Avaricio’s costly bogey on No. 17.

The dramatic finish left the pair tied atop the leaderboard, one stroke ahead of South Korea’s Kim Seoyun, who missed an opportunity to force a three-way tie after a late bogey and settled for a 71 at Apo Golf and Country Club.

Princess Superal carded a 73 to take fourth place, while Yvon Bisera, Daniella Uy and amateur Johanna Uyking shared fifth with 74s.

The tightly contested opening round set the stage for a pressure-packed battle over the final 36 holes of the PHP 1.25 million championship, which concludes the eight-leg Ladies Philippine Golf Tour (LPGT) regular season.

Rev Alcantara struggled with a 76 to share eighth place with Sarah Ababa, while Tiffany Lee saw her hopes of a stronger start fade after an error-filled back-nine 41 left her with a 77.

For a while, Avaricio, coming off a one-shot victory over Lee at South Pacific last week, played as though she had found another gear, leaving the rest of the field struggling to keep pace.

In sweltering conditions, with the wind becoming a factor early in the afternoon, the 29-year-old golfer displayed sharp tee shots, steady course management and precision on the greens.

She birdied the first two holes and capped a flawless front-nine performance with two more birdies to build a commanding lead over her nearest pursuers.

But the demanding Apo layout tested Avaricio on the back nine as she bogeyed the last two par-3 holes without making another birdie, finishing with contrasting nines of 32 and 38.

Playing two groups behind, Constantino also started strongly with two birdies on the front nine before enduring an up-and-down stretch on the difficult back nine.

She recorded two bogeys and two birdies on the back nine, including one on the final hole, to finish with a 34-36 card and secure a share of the lead.

Kim, returning to LPGT competition after skipping last week’s South Pacific leg, reached two-under after 10 holes, having started on the back nine, but bogeyed the seventh to settle for a one-under 71.

Avaricio’s strong start gave way to a frustrating back nine as mishit shots and missed putts disrupted the momentum she had established with her solid putting earlier in the round.

“I putted really well on the front nine, making just 12 putts, which helped me shoot a good score,” said Avaricio. “But I struggled at the back.”

Despite the late-round setbacks, Avaricio emphasized the importance of remaining focused and approaching each hole separately on a course that demands precision and patience.

“I tried to stay in the moment because every hole is different. The course is very narrow and challenging, so you have to be patient and confident. At the same time, you need to be mindful of every shot and focus on executing it well,” she said.

Avaricio is also the defending champion at Apo, having claimed the 2025 title by seven strokes after taking control of the tournament with a second-round 68.

Constantino, meanwhile, managed to shoot a 70 despite struggling with her tee shots and iron play, relying on an effective short game to remain in early title contention.

She said her putting proved crucial as she repeatedly saved pars despite missing greens and struggling to find her rhythm with her longer clubs.

“I think my putting worked really well today. I didn’t hit a lot of greens, but I chipped and putted very well,” said Constantino.

Rather than crediting a particular adjustment or standout aspect of her game, she attributed her performance to her ability to recover and save strokes around the greens.

“Nothing specific, really. I think I just saved a lot of pars,” she said.

Despite dealing with a stiff right shoulder overnight, Kim recovered sufficiently after taking medication, applying pain-relief cream and doing extensive stretching to card a one-under round.

Reflecting on her solid performance off the tee, Kim said: “My tee-shots were pretty solid, and I hit all the fairways. I had a great feeling with that, which helped me hit well even as the greens got better.”

Having recorded several runner-up and third-place finishes in previous tournaments, the South Korean golfer believes she is better prepared to challenge for her first major victory.

“I’ve had a lot of second- or third-place finishes in the past, but I feel more confident each year,” she said. “I really enjoy playing in this tournament with such good players, and I know I can handle it. Hopefully, I can play the same way tomorrow.”