TAGAYTAY – Chanelle Avaricio, due for a breakthrough after a couple of runner-up efforts and a strong finish last week, seeks to finally nail the elusive win this week as she launches her drive in the ICTSI Tagaytay Highlands Challenge which unwraps today (Tuesday) with a morale and confidence boosted by a hole-in-one feat in yesterday’s practice round.

While she opted to tone down expectations, the Alabama State U product has reiterated her desire to hit paydirt after falling short at Sherwood Hills and Eagle Ridge-Norman last July and rallying to snare fourth place in last week’s ICTSI Aoki Classic in exacting conditions at Eagle Ridge.

“No expectations but I’d like to win,” said Avaricio, who used a Ping 8-iron and ProV1 No. 3 ball in acing the 128-yard No. 9. “I’m trying to shoot aggressively but it’s not wise to do this on this tight course where it is better to play safe. But the greens are really good.”

She maintained that Highlands is in perfect shape with the wind at their manageable level, promising good scoring in the 54-hole tournament put up by ICTSI.

“I think the wind condition at Aoki was a lot more challenging, they blew from all over,” she added.
But it will still be a true test of golf in the next three days as the tricky Highlands course offers practically all the elements needed to challenge not only the bidders’ shotmaking skills and mental toughness but also their endurance given the layout’s up-and-down makeup and contours, hazards and putting surface.

Harmie Constantino will be the marked player, having captured the ICTSI Aoki crown four days ago on amateur Mafy Singson’s late mishap while Chihiro Ikeda, who won at the adjacent Midlands course via sudden death over Pauline del Rosario in 2019, hopes to ride the momentum of her third place finish at Aoki to bolster their respective title bids in the P750,000 championship.

Marvi Monsalve, Sunshine Baraquiel and Daniella Uy are all due for a big finish along with former leg winner Sarah Ababa, Lovelyn Guioguio, Pamela Mariano, Apple Fudolin, Sheryl Villasensio and Florence Bisera.

Gretchen Villacencio, whose best finish was runner-up to Superal at Riviera in 2018, rejoins the tour after missing last week’s action, eager to spring a surprise in the 54-hole tournament held under strict health and safety protocols.

Korean Jane Jeong is also out to make a mark in her pro debut.

Focus will also be on the amateurs with Singson hoping to come out stronger and tougher from last week’s late stumble, along with Laurea Duque and Burberry Zhang.

Eagle Ace Superal is also raring to atone for her forgettable showing last week while Keena Puzon and Arnie Taguines, the low amateur at Eagle Ridge-Norman, beef up the ranks in the event, the second of four bubble tournaments lined up by the organizing Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. after the three-month hiatus.

After a break next week, action heats up with the staging of the ICTSI Riviera Ladies Challenge on Nov. 24-26 while the ICTSI Riviera Ladies Championship will be held Dec. 1-3 at the Couples and Langer courses in Silang, Cavite.