GEN. TRIAS, Cavite – Daniella Uy shot a one-under 71 and took a one-stroke lead despite a shaky finish in the opening of the ICTSI Eagle Ridge Ladies Classic at the tricky Norman course Wednesday here.
Tied for second to fourth placers were Princess Superal and Sunshine Baraquiel and Chihiro Ikeda.
The former Junior World champion fought off a rollercoaster round with a birdie on the 17th to go two-under with two holes to play and stayed at the helm despite a bogey on the first hole as Ikeda and Superal also both dropped a shot on the tough par-4 No. 1, which served as the finishing hole.
That enabled Uy to seize control behind one of her strongest starts in the circuit, where her best finish at the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour resumption after a long hiatus due to pandemic was third in the last of two Riviera bubble tournaments late last year.
Uy, who ended up sixth at Sherwood last week, rebounded from a bogey on No. 2 with birdies on Nos. 4 and 7. She yielded strokes on Nos. 9 and 10 but regained them in the next two before dropping another shot on No. 13.
“I’ll just stick to the plan and try to make it simple,” said Uy, who birdied the par-5 15th then added another on the 17th.
“But we’re really very excited to be competing again. This also gives a chance to prepare us for overseas campaign,” added the LPGA Tour of Taiwan veteran.
Superal, who edged Chanelle Avaricio to reign at Sherwood, also birdied No. 17 to likewise hit a two-under card in a separate flight. But the multi-titled shotmaker wavered and bogeyed the last two holes to drop into a tie at 72 with Ikeda and Baraquiel.
“I missed putts from close range, including on the last two holes,” said Superal, who birdied Nos. 4 and 6 to be among the early leaders then reeled back with a bogey on No. 12.
