Constantino stays on top

HARMIE Constantino drained seven birdies in her last 11 holes yesterday to shoot a six-under-par 66 and build a two-shot lead over Thailand’s Saraporn Chamchoi going to today’s final 18 holes of the ICTSI Mount Malarayat Ladies Classic in Lipa City.

The reigning national amateur champion turned a so-so round into a swashbuckling effort, bouncing back from a one-over card after seven holes for a 35-31 and a 36-hole 137 aggregate to stay on track towards becoming the circuit’s third amateur winner this year.

Chamchoi fired a flawless 67 to keep Constantino in sight and make it a two-way fight for the title with compatriot Chatprapa Siriprakob and Chihiro Ikeda shooting 72s to be seven shots off the pace.

Daniella Uy, another amateur who started the day just a shot off Constantino, fired a 73 to be another stroke behind with Jayvie Agojo shooting a 70 to be at 146, tied with Chanelle Avaricio, the third amateur in the top 10, who shot a 71.

All the others are simply too far off to contend in the final round as Constantino aims to duplicate what Bernice Olivares-Ilas and Yuka Saso pulled off earlier in the season.

Ilas ruled the Beverly Hills Challenge in Pampanga, while Saso dominated the Eagle Ridge leg last May.

“I just got lucky,” the 15-year-old Constantino said when asked what turned her round around starting with a birdie on the par-3 eighth.

That actually touched off a string of three straight birds as Constantino, during that hot streak, had pars only on four holes.

Chamchoi also had a hot back nine, shooting four of her five birdies there to keep the leader within range.

Ikeda, shooting to win a second straight title after breaking through last month, had four birdies but had a double-bogey 7 on No. 9 and closed out with another dropped shot. Her second bogey came on No. 3. Musong R. Castillo