Huang tames winds with vintage frontside assault, wins by 4

LIPA City, Batangas – Ching Huang once again proved that when the wind howls and conditions turn exacting, she is in her element.

Eight years after conquering the blustery terrain of Tagaytay, the veteran Taiwanese campaigner delivered another masterclass in wind golf, dominating the ICTSI Philippine Ladies Masters Friday with a closing 66 in a performance that underscored her rare ability to thrive when others merely try to survive.

Tied for second with Yeonseo Hwang at the start of the final round, one stroke behind Jeonghyeon Kang, Huang wasted little time asserting control. She came out firing, unleashing a stunning four-birdie blitz in the opening five holes – a burst of precision and composure that immediately separated her from a field struggling to find its footing amid the gusts at Summit Point here.

Huang finished with a commanding 11-under-par 205 total over 54 holes to claim the $30,000 top prize, evoking memories of her four-shot victory at the 2018 ICTSI Champion Tour at Tagaytay Midlands – another event defined by relentless winds and demanding setups.

“I’m really happy because I didn’t expect to win here again,” the 30-year-old Huang said after securing her fifth career title and her first since 2018. “I just did my best in the first round and told myself that if I could sustain my game, I had a chance to become champion. Everything just clicked. With so many strong players in the field, I knew I had to play well to win.”

The parallels were unmistakable. After a steady opening-round 70, Huang adjusted masterfully, firing a 69 to thrust herself into contention before delivering the decisive blow with her explosive final-round start.

Kang and Hwang mounted one final charge with birdies on the par-5 14th to close within three, but Huang responded decisively, carding a birdie of her own on the next hole to extinguish any lingering hopes the Koreans carried into the closing stretch.

She punctuated her romp with another birdie on the 17th, matching the tournament-best six-under card posted by Yunseo Lee in the first round.

“I was nervous,” Huang said. “I just focused on keeping my tempo, taking it one shot at a time, and trying to match how I played in the second round.”

Jeonghyeon Kang birdied the final two holes to salvage a 71 and finish solo second at 209, while Jisun Kang charged back with a 69 to tie Lee (70) and Hwang (71) for third at 210.

Daniella Uy matched par-72 to finish as the best Filipina performer, placing joint 12th at 216, although her result fell short of Pauline del Rosario’s joint fourth-place finish in last year’s edition of the event at The Country Club.

Chanelle Avaricio fought back with a 69 to tie for 24th at 219, while Princess Superal carded a 72 for joint 34th at 221, and del Rosario (73), Mafy Singson (76) and Sarah Ababa (77) tied for 37th with 222 totals.

While her Korean rivals faltered, Huang’s shot-making stood out in stark contrast. She repeatedly split the fairways with confident drives, attacked pins with crisp approach shots that pierced the wind, and rolled in putts with unflinching calm. By the fifth hole, she had surged to a four-shot lead, posting a running nine-under total that left her closest challengers visibly rattled.

That scorching start all but settled the outcome.

Another birdie on the ninth capped a flawless frontside 31, extending her command as Kang could only manage an even-par card with two birdies against two bogeys, while Hwang also settled for a 36. From there, the back nine became less a battleground and more a coronation walk for the 33-year-old Huang, though one marked by discipline rather than complacency.

Fully aware of the dangers lurking in Summit Point’s wind-swept layout, Huang stayed patient after stumbling with her first bogey on No. 10, which she birdied in the first two rounds. She quickly answered with a birdie on the next to maintain control.

Another missed green led to a bogey on No. 12, but Kang and the rest of the field failed to capitalize, also dropping shots, allowing Huang to preserve a four-shot cushion on her way to victory. Her timely shot-making and clutch putting consistently halted the challenges of Kang and Hwang, underscoring the experience and mental toughness that have long defined her success in difficult conditions.

In conditions that tested patience, nerve and shot control, Huang didn’t merely endure – she excelled, reaffirming her reputation as a player who rises when the challenge is greatest.