Short game helps Avaricio thwart Superal in playoff

Chanelle Avaricio is determined more than ever to break through as a pro when the LPGT restarts. —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Rallying with a 54th hole birdie to force a playoff, Chanelle Avaricio on Friday then scored a routine par on her second trip to the 18th to defeat Princess Superal in sudden death and win the ICTSI Hallow Ridge Ladies Challenge crown.

After closing with a one-under-par 71 to catch Superal at level 216 after regulation, Avaricio reached the par-5 18th in three and two-putted before watching Superal miss a nine-footer for par.

It was the second pro win for the former Alabama State University standout and it also forced Superal to finish second for the second time in three weeks. Amateur Rianne Malixi also beat the seasoned Superal by a shot during the Luisita stop that restarted the ladies tour.

“My short game helped me a lot,” Avaricio, who calls Hallow Ridge home, said later. “I know the course well but it’s challenging every time I play here.”

Superal, who started the day three shots ahead, skied to a closing 74—her worst round of the week—to fall into a playoff.

Harmie Constantino and Chihiro Ikeda also carded 74s and finished seven shots off the pace.