By REYNALD MAGALLON
Harmie Constantino is launching her three-peat drive against a souped-up ladies’ field while top guns Ira Alido and Tony Lascuña brace for a tough title chase in men’s side when the ICTSI Valley Golf Challenge fires off Tuesday, June 6 in Antipolo.
There’s no sense of pressure or whatsoever for Constantino as she guns for her third-straight title in the P750,000 event at the Valley Golf South although the back-to-back winner at Luisita and Villamor has put more emphasis on consistency heading into the contest.
“I don’t think there’s pressure,” said Constantino who is also looking to best her previous third place finish in last year’s staging of the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour event topped by amateur Rianne Malixi.
“I just want to play well and I’m confident to know that I can produce good rounds. I just need to play consistently,” she added on the eve of the 54-hole tournament put up by ICTSI.
Out to put a halt to her streak are last year’s runner-up Chihiro Ikeda, and rival Daniella Uy along with Lois Kaye Go and Mikha Fortuna, Mafy Singson and Koreans Minyeong Kim, Jiwon Lee and Eunhua Nam.
Sarah Ababa who has a string of Top 5 finishes in the first five legs, including a runner-up effort in Bacolod, is also one of the Constantino’s challengers along with Florence Bisera, Pamela Mariano, Gretchen Villacencio, Lesley Icoy and Martina Miñoza. Sheryl Villasencio, Lovelynn Guioguio, Lucy Landicho, Eva Miñoza, Apple Fudolin, Monica Mandario, Rev Alcantara and Korean Juyoung Yang.
Meanwhile, Alido and Lascuña banner a competitive field in the P2 million tournament which also serves as the sixth leg of this year’s circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc at the Volley Golf Club.
Coming off a strong showing in the Asian Development Tour in Thailand, Alido is expeted to be a marked owing to his familiarity with the course.
Lascuña, the runaway winner at Caliraya Springs, also likes his chances in the up-and-down course.
The competition, however, definitely won’t be a two-way race as guys like Guido van der Valk and Jhonnel Ababa are also joining the fray along with Clyde Mondilla, Justin Quiban, Zanieboy Gialon, Lloyd Go and Angelo Que.
Also part of the stellar cast are Joenard Rates, Reymon Jaraula, Michael Bibat, Marvin Dumandan, Frankie Miñoza, Gerald Rosales, Keanu Jahns, Albin Engino, Mars Pucay, Iloilo leg champion Rupert Zaragosa and Jay Bayron.
