Rianne Malixi is having a grand time. —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Playing pressure-free, amateur Rianne Malixi gunned down an eagle and two of her birdies in a hot back nine on Wednesday, shooting a two-under-par 70 to all but put the ICTSI Tagaytay Highlands Challenge title away with a nine-shot lead as the rest of the fancied pros continued to stumble under difficult conditions.
Counting an opening 73, the bubbly Malixi will take a 143 aggregate into the final 18 holes, with Daniella Uy, who returned a 75, needing a truly spectacular, faultless round to even give pressure to the two-day leader.
“I just treated it like a practice round. Actually, there was no pressure [on me], but it’s a great challenge,” said Malixi who could wind up as one of the youngest winners on tour while joining a short list of amateurs who have triumphed. “I know I’ve been dubious about my iron shots, but I was able to manage myself great.”
Her eagle on the par-5 16th came off a 50-degree wedge from near the undulating green and Malixi said that she will continue to play the final round like a “practice round.”
For all intents and purposes and barring Malixi not showing up for the last 18 holes, the race for the top prize out of the P750,000 pot for the pros will be among Uy and Sunshine Baraquiel and Harmie Constantino, who trail Uy by just a stroke after a 77 and 74, respectively.
Uy birdied the par-5 16th to stay a shot clear of Baraquiel and Constantino.