GEN. TRIAS, Cavite – Mafy Singson carded a 74 but emerged on top in the second round of the ICTSI Eagle Ridge Championship at the Faldo course here on Tuesday.
However, lurking just a few strokes behind are a pair of battle-hardened campaigners in Chihiro Ikeda and Marvi Monsalve, setting the stage for a frantic and unpredictable finish in the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour event.
Starting the day four shots behind Gretchen Villacencio in joint fourth, Singson played steady through 12 holes, mixing one birdie and one bogey, before yielding shots on Nos. 13 and 15 as the swirling wind once again took control of the round.
With the leaderboard constantly shifting in every gust, Singson managed to wrest the lead anew after Villacencio and Kayla Nocum stumbled late in their rounds.
Singson’s 10-over 154 aggregate put her a shot ahead of Ikeda and two clear of Monsalve, moving her closer to a second LPGT victory after bagging her maiden crown at Valley Golf Club last year.
Determined to make the most of her position, the Davaoeña vowed to stay patient and avoid aggressive plays that could cost her the lead.
Ikeda, who also stumbled with an opening-round 80, quietly moved into contention after a gritty second-round 75. Despite missing an opportunity to tie or even snatch the lead after a three-putt bogey on No. 10, the former LPGT Order of Merit winner came through with clutch birdies on Nos. 2 and 16 to secure solo second at 155.
Also back in the hunt is Monsalve, who staged a remarkable turnaround after an error-filled opening-round 82.
Banking on improved putting, she fired a 74 to climb to solo third at 156, just two strokes off the lead.
The title, however, remains up for grabs with several players still in the mix despite being a few shots off the pace.
Sarah Ababa posted a 79 for a 157 total, buoyed by a birdie on the 18th. Mikha Fortuna struggled with four consecutive bogeys from No. 14 but remained within striking distance after matching Ababa’s 79 for a 158 aggregate, alongside LK Go who submitted a 76.
Villacencio, who led in the first round, and Nocum faded badly as conditions worsened with the former limping home with an 83 after a triple bogey on No. 16 and a bogey on the last. She dropped to a share of fifth at 158.
Nocum, likewise, crumbled with an inward 42 after a 38 on the front, carding an 80 for the same 14-over total.
