ANTIPOLO – Amateur Rianne Malixi parlayed her rival’s early struggle and wavering finishes into a breakaway run, posting a huge 9-stroke lead with a two-under 70 as the heat presented another challenge in the second round of the ICTSI Valley Golf Challenge Thursday here.
But whatever conditions the weather had delivered, Malixi showed she’s mentally and physically prepared for the less-than-ideal conditions at the tight, daunting Valley South, overcoming a two-bogey, one-birdie card after five holes with three birdies and bucking a double-bogey on No. 11 with back-to-back birdies from the 12th to pull away.
“It was a game full of recoveries. I was able to bounce back on not-so-good holes and I was sinking the putts that mattered most,” said Malixi.
While erstwhile co-leader Harmie Constantino and the rest of the pro field wilted in the heat and faded with mediocre rounds in the last nine holes of the tough up-and-down layout, Malixi remained cool and kept on firing with the accompanying breeze at the backside making it more unnerving for her pursuers to ever mount a charge.
With a 144 aggregate, Malixi heads to the final 18 holes of the P750,000 championship with the biggest lead ever-posted after 36 holes on the Ladies Philippines Golf Tour, looking for a second win this year after edging multi-titled Princess Superal by one in this year’s kickoff leg at Luisita last March.
Constantino never recovered from a three-bogey skid from No. 2 and finished with a 79, forcing a tie for second at 153 with Marvi Monsalve, who limped with a 78.
Chihiro Ikeda carded a 78 for a share of fourth at 154 with Martina Miñoza, who shot a 75.
But it will be a duel like no other for Constantino and Ikeda, who are both targeting the top purse to fuel their respective bids in the Order of Merit race heading to the last three legs of the Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.-organized circuit at Riviera, Pradera Verde and Anvaya Cove.
Three-leg winner but absentee Chanelle Avaricio leads the chase with P522,500 in winnings but Ikeda and Constantino are just behind with earnings of P485,250 and P368,250, respectively.
Monsalve is also out for a big finish and a shot at a first pro victory.
