Harmie hangs tough to win Aoki stop by one

Playing steadily enough in the stretch when it truly mattered, Harmie Constantino on Friday gutted out clutch pars on her last four holes to win the P750,000 ICTSI Aoki Classic at Eagle Ridge by a shot over amateur Mafy Singson despite closing out with a three-over-par 75.

Constantino lost a four-stroke lead in a horrendous stretch from No. 9 where she signed for a double bogey 6 before dropping shots at Nos. 11 and 14. But she steadied the ship over the difficult finishing holes as Singson had a costly bogey at No. 17 for the marginal stroke.

After rounds of 73 and 70, Constantino tallied 218 over 54 holes with Singson checking in with a 74.

It was the second straight win over the same layout for Constantino, the former national champion who won her maiden pro event at the Gen. Trias, Cavite, layout last March when she upset Princess Superal with a two-shot win.“I guess this course just suits my game, the way it was set up,” said Constantino. “I actually had a rough day, it wasn’t what I expected from myself. I thought I could’ve shot better.”

Chihiro Ikeda also blew into the mix because of that bad Constantino stretch, shooting a 71 to finish two strokes off with Chanelle Avaricio firing a 70 to check in another stroke back.

Constantino bankrolled P112,500 out of the pot, putting her in second spot in the Order of Merit behind the absent Superal as the Ladies Professional Golf Tour, playing in a bubble, heads to Tagaytay for the Midlands Ladies Challenge next week.

Another two legs are scheduled to be held at Riviera in Silang, Cavite, with the Riviera Ladies Challenge over the Langer and Couples courses on Nov. 24-26 and Dec. 1-3, respectively.