Stars align for showdown at ICTSI Negros Classic

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NEGROS OCCIDENTAL – Riding high after a dramatic come-from-behind win in Bacolod last Thursday, Pauline del Rosario returns to action with momentum as she eyes back-to-back victories at the ICTSI Negros Occidental Golf Challenge, which tees off Tuesday, September 9.

Del Rosario, who fired a final-round 66 to edge Seo Yun Kim by one, now faces a deeper, more competitive field at Marapara Golf and Country Club.

Leading the chase are Princess Superal and Chanelle Avaricio, both set to contend for the PHP 1 million purse in the sixth leg of the 2025 Ladies Philippine Golf Tour.

Superal, who skipped the Bacolod stop to complete a shoulder treatment, is back in top form after clinching a playoff win over Sarah Ababa at Caliraya Springs last month.

The inaugural Asia Pacific Cup champion has declared herself fit and ready for another run at the title.

Avaricio, meanwhile, enters the 54-hole event rested and confident, having dominated Forest Hills in June with a six-shot victory.

She returns to Marapara with fond memories, having erased an eight-stroke deficit to beat Ababa by one in 2023.

But the spotlight isn’t limited to the trio of Del Rosario, Superal, and Avaricio.

Kim, the 21-year-old Korean who led the Bacolod tournament for two rounds, is out for redemption after faltering in the final stretch.

With near-flawless play over the first 36 holes, Kim has shown she has the game to win and will aim to convert that into her first title.

Harmie Constantino, the defending Marapara champion, adds intrigue to the field despite an up-and-down season following her four-title campaign in 2024.

She captured last year’s weather-shortened event at Marapara and hopes a return to familiar ground will help her regain top form.

Also in the mix is the ever-consistent Ababa, who has remained a strong contender at nearly every tour stop this year.

The tournament features a stacked field that includes Daniella Uy, Chihiro Ikeda, Florence Bisera, Mafy Singson, Tiffany Lee, Lois Kaye Go, Martina Miñoza, Pamela Mariano, Velinda Castil, Annika Cedo, and Kayla Nocum.

Any one of them could string together three strong rounds and walk away with the crown.

With Marapara’s tricky layout, unpredictable conditions, and subtle challenges, no lead is safe and every shot counts.

The field features past champions, rising stars, and seasoned pros—each capable of seizing the moment.

Whether it ends in a playoff, a wire-to-wire win, or another comeback thriller, this year’s ICTSI Negros Occidental Golf Challenge promises high drama and fierce competition.

All signs point to a wide-open race, where skill, strategy, and nerves will determine who emerges on top.